Chris Birr
@cbirr.bsky.social
Columbus, OH School Psych. Trying to scale things that work. Views my own or borrowed from smarter people. Now with aftermarket parts.
Work stuff: https://connectedmtss.wixsite.com/website/presentations-and-publications
http://linkedin.com/in/chris-birr
Work stuff: https://connectedmtss.wixsite.com/website/presentations-and-publications
http://linkedin.com/in/chris-birr
What’s the effectiveness of constructivism? Asking for a friend.
February 13, 2026 at 2:12 PM
What’s the effectiveness of constructivism? Asking for a friend.
Interesting about the potential cause of autism.
Growing evidence points to link between autism and wildfire smoke — Grist
Two new studies have identified an alarming connection between exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy and autism in young children. The unprecedented findings suggest the neurological…
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Interesting about the potential cause of autism.
Not found in here. Would’ve been shocked at the level of boring included if I were.
www.justice.gov/epstein/search
www.justice.gov/epstein/search
www.justice.gov
February 10, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Not found in here. Would’ve been shocked at the level of boring included if I were.
www.justice.gov/epstein/search
www.justice.gov/epstein/search
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Not really related to educational research. But coffee strongly supports me as a school psych. Let’s hear it for side benefits.
Not really related to educational research. But coffee strongly supports me as a school psych. Let’s hear it for side benefits.
Coffee and Tea Intake, Dementia Risk, and Cognitive Function
This prospective cohort study investigates whether coffee and tea intake are associated with dementia risk and cognitive function in female participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and male…
jamanetwork.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:55 PM
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Not really related to educational research. But coffee strongly supports me as a school psych. Let’s hear it for side benefits.
Not really related to educational research. But coffee strongly supports me as a school psych. Let’s hear it for side benefits.
Can’t wait for meetings where we discuss whether polio effects are eligible under OHI major or minor. What are we doing?!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
What if the polio vaccine becomes optional?
Podcast Episode · On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti · 02/06/2026 · 39m
podcasts.apple.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Can’t wait for meetings where we discuss whether polio effects are eligible under OHI major or minor. What are we doing?!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Just me? Male school psychs. Wear a cardigan. How long until a Mr Roger’s, neighbor, retirement, etc comment?
Third interaction for me today.
Third interaction for me today.
January 21, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Just me? Male school psychs. Wear a cardigan. How long until a Mr Roger’s, neighbor, retirement, etc comment?
Third interaction for me today.
Third interaction for me today.
Thanks @npr for this! Great summary how #ai can help and hurt schools and students.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5674741/ai-schools-education
www.npr.org
January 14, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Thanks @npr for this! Great summary how #ai can help and hurt schools and students.
Reposted by Chris Birr
Reposted by Chris Birr
The NYT has numbers on the cuts at the Dept of Education.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
January 10, 2026 at 1:24 AM
The NYT has numbers on the cuts at the Dept of Education.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Reposted by Chris Birr
New: A look at what we know and don't know about the last decade of test score declines.
–They've been remarkably pervasive and started before the pandemic.
–Other countries have been hit too.
–Experts (and everyone else) have theories, but not definitive answers.
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/08/w...
–They've been remarkably pervasive and started before the pandemic.
–Other countries have been hit too.
–Experts (and everyone else) have theories, but not definitive answers.
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/08/w...
Why have test scores been going down for a decade?
Experts don’t really know. Leading theories include screens, school expectations, and the pandemic.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 9, 2026 at 4:12 PM
New: A look at what we know and don't know about the last decade of test score declines.
–They've been remarkably pervasive and started before the pandemic.
–Other countries have been hit too.
–Experts (and everyone else) have theories, but not definitive answers.
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/08/w...
–They've been remarkably pervasive and started before the pandemic.
–Other countries have been hit too.
–Experts (and everyone else) have theories, but not definitive answers.
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/08/w...
My reaction when I see requests for early elementary tutoring in reading comprehension without knowing it’s really not decoding or fluency deficits.
a man in a suit and tie is giving a thumbs up and says sure
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is giving a thumbs up and says sure
media.tenor.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:25 PM
My reaction when I see requests for early elementary tutoring in reading comprehension without knowing it’s really not decoding or fluency deficits.
As a school psych, I hold parents who reply to emails with emojis in the highest regard. Not kidding.
January 8, 2026 at 4:36 PM
As a school psych, I hold parents who reply to emails with emojis in the highest regard. Not kidding.
This was such an excellent summary of #ADHD and evidence surrounding treatment and management. Not sure how I missed this in the past. The knock on open offices at the end was a bonus. 
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD) Part 1 Encore with Russell Barkley
Podcast Episode · Ologies with Alie Ward · 12/24/2025 · 1h 40m
podcasts.apple.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This was such an excellent summary of #ADHD and evidence surrounding treatment and management. Not sure how I missed this in the past. The knock on open offices at the end was a bonus. 
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Holidays with extended family. My watch is worried about me.
December 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Holidays with extended family. My watch is worried about me.
Thought of these the other day as this year is already almost half done.
connectedmtss.wixsite.com/website/post...
connectedmtss.wixsite.com/website/post...
Top 10 List of Things Learned Over Way Too Many Years
Before Stephen Colbert, David Letterman hosted The Late Show with David Letterman from 1993 to 2015. One of the signature segments was the “Late Show Top 10,” where he would pick a topic and put a…
connectedmtss.wixsite.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Thought of these the other day as this year is already almost half done.
connectedmtss.wixsite.com/website/post...
connectedmtss.wixsite.com/website/post...
Australia: kudos on efforts to limit social media for kids. I predict that ban is a speed bump for kids and they already have work arounds. Probably took 10-15 minutes, maybe less.
I suspect you’d need to ban devices or ban functionality on devices.
I suspect you’d need to ban devices or ban functionality on devices.
December 10, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Australia: kudos on efforts to limit social media for kids. I predict that ban is a speed bump for kids and they already have work arounds. Probably took 10-15 minutes, maybe less.
I suspect you’d need to ban devices or ban functionality on devices.
I suspect you’d need to ban devices or ban functionality on devices.
I’m seeing chatter about the 4-day school week. I recalled achievement can remain the same or decline, appealing for recruitment to a degree, real estate can be negatively impacted, child care and services for children can be impacted. Good summary here.
journalistsresource.org/education/fo...
journalistsresource.org/education/fo...
Four-day school week: What research suggests
To help recruit teachers, many U.S. school districts have adopted a four-day school week. Research shows there are consequences for students.
journalistsresource.org
December 6, 2025 at 2:43 AM
I’m seeing chatter about the 4-day school week. I recalled achievement can remain the same or decline, appealing for recruitment to a degree, real estate can be negatively impacted, child care and services for children can be impacted. Good summary here.
journalistsresource.org/education/fo...
journalistsresource.org/education/fo...
My prediction… the school psych shortage is going to become exponentially worse. Those who want to become one, have to be able to afford it and most likely will have differing backgrounds of where they are needed most.
November 22, 2025 at 4:53 AM
My prediction… the school psych shortage is going to become exponentially worse. Those who want to become one, have to be able to afford it and most likely will have differing backgrounds of where they are needed most.
The International MTSS Association
www.mtssassociation.org
New but looks like it will be a phenomenal resource.
www.mtssassociation.org
New but looks like it will be a phenomenal resource.
International MTSS Association (IMA) | Enhance Education Now — Join Us
Discover evidence-based MTSS solutions, global standards, and professional growth opportunities to support all learners worldwide.
www.mtssassociation.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The International MTSS Association
www.mtssassociation.org
New but looks like it will be a phenomenal resource.
www.mtssassociation.org
New but looks like it will be a phenomenal resource.
I’ve seen positive effects in the real world. Intervention and curriculum review should come down to external review and local review of outcomes.
Who Killed UFLI? The Curious Case of the Pennsylvania Curriculum List
Someone has it out for UFLI, which was dinged on the PA curriculum list. Kata Solow is on the case.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I’ve seen positive effects in the real world. Intervention and curriculum review should come down to external review and local review of outcomes.
I like to respond to meeting invite acceptances telling the team member where their response placed. I find me funny.
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I like to respond to meeting invite acceptances telling the team member where their response placed. I find me funny.