Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
Sociologist and education policy pundit
Education
74%
Political science
9%
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Sep 10
National test scores lowest ever for high schoolers in reading and math
The data comes from a test given to high school seniors in 2024.
ny1.com
I comment on the implications of the newly-released NAEP scores for New York City.
ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...
ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Aug 26
Assistant/Associate Professor in Sociology and Education, Tenure-Track Position
The Sociology and Education Program in the Department of Education Policy & Social Analysis at Teachers College, Columbia University (EPSA) is seeking a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor w...
employment.tc.columbia.edu
We’re hiring! Tenure-track Assistant/Associate. Professor of Sociology & Education at Teachers College, Columbia University! Review of applications begins October 15, 2025. For more info, contact me at amp155@tc.columbia.edu.
employment.tc.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
employment.tc.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Aug 11
NYC state tests jump in reading and math. How did your school do?
NYC officials claimed credit for a 7 percentage point bump in reading scores, but experts said it’s difficult to draw a link to Mayor Adams’ curriculum overhaul.
www.chalkbeat.org
I comment on the latest New York City reading and math test scores.
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Aug 10
Wearing your conference badge to the hotel fitness center is overdoing the status signaling.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Aug 8
What Is Mamdani’s Vision for New York City’s $40 Billion School System?
www.nytimes.com
I comment on Zohran Mamdani’s lack of attention to classroom teaching and learning.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/n...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Jul 24
Peoria rhymes with Astoria.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Jul 20
Is anyone here working with PIAAC 2023 data? I’m unable to replicate published international means with the public use files, but the individual country files line up correctly. Would love to compare notes.
Reposted by Peter Bergman
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Jul 8
Real progress or noise: As scores inch up, is NYC’s reading curriculum overhaul working?
“These results are good news, but it is too early to determine whether this is a useful step towards the intended goal or irrelevant noise,” one literacy expert said.
www.chalkbeat.org
I caution against using screener test scores as definitive evidence of the effects of curriculum reform in NYC. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Jun 1
On Friday, Elon Musk explained his black eye, saying that he told his five-year-old son to punch him.
Maybe he’d be willing to adopt me.
Maybe he’d be willing to adopt me.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· May 30
Donald Trump doesn’t like the epithet TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out). But unfortunately, reprehensible retaliation is Trump’s objective (BURRITO).
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Apr 4
Vital City | What Does Trump’s Move to Dismantle the Department of Education Mean for NYC?
Separating fears from facts
www.vitalcitynyc.org
“Do the Trump administration’s efforts to close the Department of Education jeopardize Title I and IDEA funds? Not if the administration follows the law.”
My interpretation of the effects of dismantling the federal Department of Education for NYC.
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/wha...
My interpretation of the effects of dismantling the federal Department of Education for NYC.
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/wha...
Reposted by Aaron M. Pallas
Vital City
@vitalcitynyc.bsky.social
· Apr 3
Vital City | What Does Trump’s Move to Dismantle the Department of Education Mean for NYC?
Separating fears from facts
www.vitalcitynyc.org
Donald Trump is eviscerating the federal Department of Education. What does that mean on the ground for teachers, students and parents in New York City's largest-in-the-nation public school system? @ampallas.bsky.social answers: www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/wha...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Mar 19
Congratulations, Matt!
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Mar 18
After a dip in reading scores, NYC offers up a solution: more test prep
“It's hard sometimes to distinguish test prep from genuine instruction, but this really looks a lot like test prep,” one expert said.
www.chalkbeat.org
A disappointing turn in NYC education policy. But I did get to reference Jennifer Jennings on "bubble kids" in talking to the reporter.
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Mar 7
FT Lecturer: Sociology and Education
The Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis (EPSA) at Teachers College, Columbia University seeks applications for a Full-time Lecturer, in the Sociology & Education Program for a three yea...
employment.tc.columbia.edu
We're hiring! The Sociology & Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University is recruiting for a three-year Lecturer appointment. Details at employment.tc.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Feb 28
Title I Funding in Limbo: What’s at Stake for Black Students
A Baltimore judge has temporarily blocked Trump’s DEI ban, but experts warn that federal funding may still be at risk.
wordinblack.com
In which I call threats to cancel federal funding for public education “a form of domestic terrorism.”
wordinblack.com/2025/02/titl...
wordinblack.com/2025/02/titl...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Feb 23
You can’t solve poverty by giving it a tax cut.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Feb 18
Trump wants to close the US Education Department. What does that mean for NJ schools?
Trump's plan to reduce or shut it would hit NJ's poorest children, students with disabilities, & college students who receive federal grants and loans.
www.northjersey.com
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Feb 12
I worked for Checker at OERI in the mid-80’s. He’s a bit too hard on the regional labs, which have stepped up their game over the past 40 years, but he recognizes the critical value of federally-supported education research.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Feb 11
My affiliation with the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education—as an intern, employee, contractor, Technical Advisory Committee member, proposal and manuscript reviewer, and co-Principal Investigator on research and training grants—spans 45 years. What happened today is sickening.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Jan 30
You know what’s radical and wasteful?
Telling public schools what they can and cannot teach.
Telling public schools what they can and cannot teach.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Jan 28
I might edit this to read “potentially impacted,” because nobody knows which grant programs are really covered by the memo.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Dec 31
I’ve just learned of the death of Lee Shulman, one of the most influential scholars of teaching and learning over the past 60 years. And a true mensch. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Dec 19
It Was a Haven for New York Families. Now They Can’t Afford to Stay. (Gift Article)
Families in Washington Heights are being pushed out by rising rents and costs, and New York City is losing its youngest demographic group.
www.nytimes.com
Is Washington Heights becoming unaffordable? If so, what are the consequences for schools? I comment.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/n...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/n...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Dec 5
A closer look at Trump's education pick Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon is a North Carolina native who is perhaps best known as the co-founder of the company now known as World Wrestling Entertainment.
ny1.com
I comment on Linda McMahon and President-elect Trump’s aspirations to shut down the federal Department of Education.
ny1.com/nc/charlotte...
ny1.com/nc/charlotte...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Dec 2
Still functioning on a higher level than our registration system and degree audit software.
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Nov 23
youtube.com
I comment on the federal Department of Education in a second Trump administration.
youtube.com/watch?v=GzOa...
youtube.com/watch?v=GzOa...
Aaron Pallas
@ampallas.bsky.social
· Nov 22
Parents Are Virtually Monitoring Their Kids in Class. Teachers Aren’t Happy
Thirty-seven percent of teachers, principals, and district leaders said in a survey that this is happening in their schools.
www.edweek.org
I comment on social class and parental monitoring of their children in class.
www.edweek.org/technology/p...
www.edweek.org/technology/p...