Jill Barshay
@jillbarshay.bsky.social
I write about education for The Hechinger Report.
Sign up for my once-a-week (always free) newsletter: https://hechingerreport.org/proofpoints/
Sign up for my once-a-week (always free) newsletter: https://hechingerreport.org/proofpoints/
It might seem that the federal education stats agency could easily be transferred to another cabinet dept if ED is closed. But not so straightforward. Why a move could degrade the quality of higher ed data. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Advocates warn of risks to higher ed data if Education Department is shuttered
But new hires and fresh research grants hint at a quiet rebuilding effort
hechingerreport.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It might seem that the federal education stats agency could easily be transferred to another cabinet dept if ED is closed. But not so straightforward. Why a move could degrade the quality of higher ed data. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Reposted by Jill Barshay
Even many critics of the Department of Education want its data collection efforts to survive — just somewhere else: via @jillbarshay.bsky.social: hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Advocates warn of risks to higher ed data if Education Department is shuttered
But new hires and fresh research grants hint at a quiet rebuilding effort
hechingerreport.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Even many critics of the Department of Education want its data collection efforts to survive — just somewhere else: via @jillbarshay.bsky.social: hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
I just started adding an AI audio player to my weekly column Proof Points. Curious if any readers have clicked on the play button and what they think. Ok, terrible? (The actual button is at the top of the story under the headline. hechingerreport.org/proof-points... )
October 29, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I just started adding an AI audio player to my weekly column Proof Points. Curious if any readers have clicked on the play button and what they think. Ok, terrible? (The actual button is at the top of the story under the headline. hechingerreport.org/proof-points... )
In a new manifesto, a prominent literacy scholar explains why a popular method for teaching reading in elementary and middle schools is failing children and tamping down reading achievement. hechingerreport.org/proof-points... (1/4) 🧵
Why one reading expert says 'just-right' books are all wrong
In a new book, researcher Timothy Shanahan argues that giving students easy texts is holding back US reading achievement
hechingerreport.org
October 27, 2025 at 5:22 PM
In a new manifesto, a prominent literacy scholar explains why a popular method for teaching reading in elementary and middle schools is failing children and tamping down reading achievement. hechingerreport.org/proof-points... (1/4) 🧵
School cellphone bans are perhaps a rare case in public policy, where the “data back up the hunches.” But the academic benefits are rather small and they come with a cost. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Cellphone bans can help kids learn — but Black students suspended at higher rates
Analysis of Florida school district after 2023 classroom cellphone restrictions shows reading and math test score gains
hechingerreport.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:24 PM
School cellphone bans are perhaps a rare case in public policy, where the “data back up the hunches.” But the academic benefits are rather small and they come with a cost. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
The academic benefits of cellphone bans in schools are more modest than proponents had hoped for, but they do seem to be helping students. "A lot of discipline" in the first year as students adjust to the new rules. (1/2) hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Cellphone bans can help kids learn — but Black students suspended at higher rates
Analysis of Florida school district after 2023 classroom cellphone restrictions shows reading and math test score gains
hechingerreport.org
October 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The academic benefits of cellphone bans in schools are more modest than proponents had hoped for, but they do seem to be helping students. "A lot of discipline" in the first year as students adjust to the new rules. (1/2) hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Despite Friday's wrecking ball at the Ed Dept. (which laid off another 466 employees and decimated special education offices), prep for the 2026 NAEP continues. Amid govt shutdown, employees who work on the "nation's report card" have been coming to work every day.
October 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Despite Friday's wrecking ball at the Ed Dept. (which laid off another 466 employees and decimated special education offices), prep for the 2026 NAEP continues. Amid govt shutdown, employees who work on the "nation's report card" have been coming to work every day.
Big debates swirl around SEL -- social emotional learning. 1: Should be teaching soft skills at all or stick to academics instead? 2: Has the content of SEL programs has expanded far beyond innocuous things like taking turns and calming down? 🧵 (1/5)
October 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Big debates swirl around SEL -- social emotional learning. 1: Should be teaching soft skills at all or stick to academics instead? 2: Has the content of SEL programs has expanded far beyond innocuous things like taking turns and calming down? 🧵 (1/5)
Listen to yesterday's (Tuesday, Aug 26th) segment on @npr.org 1a where I talk about the Trump administration's new college admissions data collection -- and how it's bypassing the usual tech review process. wamu.org/story/25/08/...
The Trump administration scrutinizes higher education
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Education to collect extensive admissions data from colleges and universities.
wamu.org
August 27, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Listen to yesterday's (Tuesday, Aug 26th) segment on @npr.org 1a where I talk about the Trump administration's new college admissions data collection -- and how it's bypassing the usual tech review process. wamu.org/story/25/08/...
Thank you to @latimes.com for publishing my story about chronic absenteeism. Skipping school isn't like it used to be... although kids still grouse that school is 'boring' www.latimes.com/california/s...
Students are missing a lot more school. Why chronic absenteeism may be here to stay
Students started missing more school with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance is far from fully recovered as chronic absenteeism remains high. Is this a permanent change?
www.latimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Thank you to @latimes.com for publishing my story about chronic absenteeism. Skipping school isn't like it used to be... although kids still grouse that school is 'boring' www.latimes.com/california/s...
Tune into @npr.org 1A show at 11am today, 8/26. Host Jenn White will be interviewing me about the Trump administration's new college admissions data collection and why stats experts think it could be a trap for higher education. wamu.org/show/1a/
August 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Tune into @npr.org 1A show at 11am today, 8/26. Host Jenn White will be interviewing me about the Trump administration's new college admissions data collection and why stats experts think it could be a trap for higher education. wamu.org/show/1a/
Reposted by Jill Barshay
Excellent reporting as always from @hechingerreport.org on the new data collection craziness from the administration.
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Inaccurate, impossible: Experts knock new Trump plan to collect college admissions data
New data survey could produce statistics that indicate bias where none exists
hechingerreport.org
August 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Excellent reporting as always from @hechingerreport.org on the new data collection craziness from the administration.
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Absenteeism is big biz and companies are peddling costly services and tech solutions to schools. Here's a sampling of what schools that have succeeded in reducing their chronic absenteeism rates are actually doing. (Spoiler: outside vendors not required). hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Adding bus stops, serving biscuits and gravy, and catching butterflies: How schools are tackling absenteeism
Schools are struggling to bring students back after the pandemic
hechingerreport.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Absenteeism is big biz and companies are peddling costly services and tech solutions to schools. Here's a sampling of what schools that have succeeded in reducing their chronic absenteeism rates are actually doing. (Spoiler: outside vendors not required). hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Reposted by Jill Barshay
my students back in 1994 told me:
if you skip 1st period, you are sleeping in
if you skip 4th period, you are going to lunch early
if you skip 5th period, you stayed at lunch late
if you skip 6th period, you went home early
i asked what you are doing if you skip 2nd or 3rd:
"getting high"
if you skip 1st period, you are sleeping in
if you skip 4th period, you are going to lunch early
if you skip 5th period, you stayed at lunch late
if you skip 6th period, you went home early
i asked what you are doing if you skip 2nd or 3rd:
"getting high"
August 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
my students back in 1994 told me:
if you skip 1st period, you are sleeping in
if you skip 4th period, you are going to lunch early
if you skip 5th period, you stayed at lunch late
if you skip 6th period, you went home early
i asked what you are doing if you skip 2nd or 3rd:
"getting high"
if you skip 1st period, you are sleeping in
if you skip 4th period, you are going to lunch early
if you skip 5th period, you stayed at lunch late
if you skip 6th period, you went home early
i asked what you are doing if you skip 2nd or 3rd:
"getting high"
Absenteeism rates at schools across the nation have come down a bit in recent years, but they're still stubbornly higher than they used to be before the pandemic. Some surprising things I have learned. (1/5)
August 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Absenteeism rates at schools across the nation have come down a bit in recent years, but they're still stubbornly higher than they used to be before the pandemic. Some surprising things I have learned. (1/5)
Reposted by Jill Barshay
A great summary of the major findings from our AEI working group on chronic absenteeism led by Nat Malkus (featuring @ehutt.bsky.social @jjacobkirksey.bsky.social and others) hechingerreport.org/proof-points... @jillbarshay.bsky.social
7 insights about chronic absenteeism, a new normal for American schools
Even high-income students are skipping more school, but absenteeism rates are highest among low-income students
hechingerreport.org
August 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A great summary of the major findings from our AEI working group on chronic absenteeism led by Nat Malkus (featuring @ehutt.bsky.social @jjacobkirksey.bsky.social and others) hechingerreport.org/proof-points... @jillbarshay.bsky.social
Reposted by Jill Barshay
Of note: Before firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump fired the head of the National Center for Education Statistics: hechingerreport.org/proof-points... via @jillbarshay.bsky.social for @hechingerreport.org ⬇️
Suddenly sacked
Former education stats chief describes her final days under DOGE
hechingerreport.org
August 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Of note: Before firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump fired the head of the National Center for Education Statistics: hechingerreport.org/proof-points... via @jillbarshay.bsky.social for @hechingerreport.org ⬇️
One GOP lawmaker is publicly protesting Education funding cuts. Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb wrote a letter bacon.house.gov/uploadedfile... to OMB and issued a press release.
bacon.house.gov
July 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
One GOP lawmaker is publicly protesting Education funding cuts. Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb wrote a letter bacon.house.gov/uploadedfile... to OMB and issued a press release.
Reposted by Jill Barshay
Another terrifically reported piece that tells the human story and the policy fallout
And the exact circumstances of her dismissal were chilling -- both figuratively and literally. Please read if you have some time today. (3/3)
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Suddenly sacked
Former education stats chief describes her final days under DOGE
hechingerreport.org
July 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Another terrifically reported piece that tells the human story and the policy fallout
In my story, I reported that an Ed Dept official said that federal data is safe and will soon be transferred to IES’s secure servers. Just learned from a former senior ED official that "IES doesn't have secure servers. That was part of the problem." hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Suddenly sacked
Former education stats chief describes her final days under DOGE
hechingerreport.org
July 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
In my story, I reported that an Ed Dept official said that federal data is safe and will soon be transferred to IES’s secure servers. Just learned from a former senior ED official that "IES doesn't have secure servers. That was part of the problem." hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
2 stories today. Supreme Court overturned lower court order to bring back fired employees at the Ed Dept. Employees are out. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... And my story this morning describes congressionally mandated activities that cannot be done without them. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
July 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
2 stories today. Supreme Court overturned lower court order to bring back fired employees at the Ed Dept. Employees are out. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... And my story this morning describes congressionally mandated activities that cannot be done without them. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Reposted by Jill Barshay
Great reporting on an absolutely dreadful, shameful story
And the exact circumstances of her dismissal were chilling -- both figuratively and literally. Please read if you have some time today. (3/3)
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Suddenly sacked
Former education stats chief describes her final days under DOGE
hechingerreport.org
July 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Great reporting on an absolutely dreadful, shameful story
Reposted by Jill Barshay
Excellent long-form piece on the sudden firing of Peggy Carr, former head of the National Center of Education Statistics.
Loved how the article illustrated how Carr earned such wide bipartisan respect.
Which makes DOGE's slapdash destruction to education data initiatives & staff all the more 🤯.
Loved how the article illustrated how Carr earned such wide bipartisan respect.
Which makes DOGE's slapdash destruction to education data initiatives & staff all the more 🤯.
July 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Excellent long-form piece on the sudden firing of Peggy Carr, former head of the National Center of Education Statistics.
Loved how the article illustrated how Carr earned such wide bipartisan respect.
Which makes DOGE's slapdash destruction to education data initiatives & staff all the more 🤯.
Loved how the article illustrated how Carr earned such wide bipartisan respect.
Which makes DOGE's slapdash destruction to education data initiatives & staff all the more 🤯.
Ever since the former commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics was dismissed by the Trump administration in February, I wanted to hear her story. Peggy Carr was among a string of Black senior officials fired in early 2025. (1/3)
July 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Ever since the former commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics was dismissed by the Trump administration in February, I wanted to hear her story. Peggy Carr was among a string of Black senior officials fired in early 2025. (1/3)
UPDATE: Ed Dept just announced this afternoon that it is giving acting IES director Matthew Soldner a second title: acting commissioner of NCES. The lack of a commissioner had been the obstacle to releasing the NAEP science scores.
Starting to see consequences from the mass cancellations and firings at ED. A month ago, I reported about a missed June 1 deadline for a statistical report. Now NAEP science scores are delayed...https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-delay-release-naep-science/
July 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
UPDATE: Ed Dept just announced this afternoon that it is giving acting IES director Matthew Soldner a second title: acting commissioner of NCES. The lack of a commissioner had been the obstacle to releasing the NAEP science scores.