Matthew Gardner Kelly
@mgardnerkelly.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at UW. History and school finance. Book: Dividing the Public. Retweets are not endorsements. Opinions are my own. 🏳️🌈 Seattle, WA.
https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501773266/dividing-the-public/#bookTabs=1
https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501773266/dividing-the-public/#bookTabs=1
We said goodbye to Rainn, just shy of 16. From a NYC shelter, he once ate rat poison, beat cancer multiple times, and never left our sides. With me through teaching, grad school, the pandemic, and academia. Grateful for every day we had, including his last. His adoption video: youtu.be/VBmptgBgZms
November 12, 2025 at 8:33 PM
We said goodbye to Rainn, just shy of 16. From a NYC shelter, he once ate rat poison, beat cancer multiple times, and never left our sides. With me through teaching, grad school, the pandemic, and academia. Grateful for every day we had, including his last. His adoption video: youtu.be/VBmptgBgZms
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
My first interview about my new book! www.americatrendspodcast.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:47 AM
My first interview about my new book! www.americatrendspodcast.com
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Today is the official publication day for CRACKED FOUNDATIONS!! 🏠🥳🎉
For the next month, Penn is offering a discount of 40% off using the code UHA25. Which brings the price down to $20.97. A screaming deal!
www.pennpress.org/978151282822...
For the next month, Penn is offering a discount of 40% off using the code UHA25. Which brings the price down to $20.97. A screaming deal!
www.pennpress.org/978151282822...
October 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Today is the official publication day for CRACKED FOUNDATIONS!! 🏠🥳🎉
For the next month, Penn is offering a discount of 40% off using the code UHA25. Which brings the price down to $20.97. A screaming deal!
www.pennpress.org/978151282822...
For the next month, Penn is offering a discount of 40% off using the code UHA25. Which brings the price down to $20.97. A screaming deal!
www.pennpress.org/978151282822...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Forbes picked up our article explaining how designating rural school districts as "education preserves" can protect them from charter and voucher expansion.
www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...
www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...
Do We Need Rural School Preserves?
A new paper argues that rural school districts are facing an existential threat, and proposes a new sort of preserve to safeguard these districts and the students that they serve.
www.forbes.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Forbes picked up our article explaining how designating rural school districts as "education preserves" can protect them from charter and voucher expansion.
www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...
www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
This is a truly wild stat. "TN will spend an average of $7,023 per public school student... compared to the $7,295 given to [voucher] students."
If a state invests more in those leaving public schools than in strengthening the system that serves all comers, what does that say about its priorities?
If a state invests more in those leaving public schools than in strengthening the system that serves all comers, what does that say about its priorities?
Tennessee voucher total outpaces average per-pupil funding for public school students
Tennessee will allocate an average of $7,023 per public school student in the state, nearly $300 less than a new private school voucher. Though public school students will receive more public funds overall given a local government contribution, Democrats and education advocates are criticizing the disparity.
www.chalkbeat.org
August 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This is a truly wild stat. "TN will spend an average of $7,023 per public school student... compared to the $7,295 given to [voucher] students."
If a state invests more in those leaving public schools than in strengthening the system that serves all comers, what does that say about its priorities?
If a state invests more in those leaving public schools than in strengthening the system that serves all comers, what does that say about its priorities?
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Good thing no one uses Microsoft Excel for anything related to legal, regulatory or compliance business functions
www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
August 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Education policy people, this fight over what counts as the nation's history is not just about historians.
With great co-authors (Leana Cabral, @esthercyna.bsky.social, Michael Hines, @mgardnerkelly.bsky.social) I got to write and think about how ideas about the past shape ed policy.
Timely!
With great co-authors (Leana Cabral, @esthercyna.bsky.social, Michael Hines, @mgardnerkelly.bsky.social) I got to write and think about how ideas about the past shape ed policy.
Timely!
August 13, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Education policy people, this fight over what counts as the nation's history is not just about historians.
With great co-authors (Leana Cabral, @esthercyna.bsky.social, Michael Hines, @mgardnerkelly.bsky.social) I got to write and think about how ideas about the past shape ed policy.
Timely!
With great co-authors (Leana Cabral, @esthercyna.bsky.social, Michael Hines, @mgardnerkelly.bsky.social) I got to write and think about how ideas about the past shape ed policy.
Timely!
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Boom.
Judge Boardman certifies a class of every baby in the country subject to Trump’s citizenship-stripping EO and blocks the unconstitutional order nationwide.
Look how she throws Alito’s words back at him as the CASA case heads back up towards SCOTUS.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Look how she throws Alito’s words back at him as the CASA case heads back up towards SCOTUS.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
August 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Boom.
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Oh yea we've got tons of evidence for this
“Univ. of Illinois report shows that a large humanities department like English produces substantial net profit; units like engineering and agriculture run at a loss. The widely respected Delaware Study of Instructional Costs and Productivity shows the same pattern.” /7 thi.ucsc.edu/the-humaniti...
The Humanities Really Do Produce a Profit – The Humanities Institute
thi.ucsc.edu
July 25, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Oh yea we've got tons of evidence for this
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Head Start programs receive 0.18% of the total federal budget. This translates to $12.3 billion out of a $6.8 trillion federal budget. This isn't about closing federal deficits, it's about being cruel and challenging constitutional precedent protecting undocumented kids.
www.wpr.org/news/new-tru...
www.wpr.org/news/new-tru...
New Trump rule bans undocumented immigrant families from Head Start
Immigrant families lacking permanent legal status will no longer qualify for federally funded preschool through the Head Start program, the Trump administration announced this week.
www.wpr.org
July 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Head Start programs receive 0.18% of the total federal budget. This translates to $12.3 billion out of a $6.8 trillion federal budget. This isn't about closing federal deficits, it's about being cruel and challenging constitutional precedent protecting undocumented kids.
www.wpr.org/news/new-tru...
www.wpr.org/news/new-tru...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
As the secretary of @aeraedresearch.bsky.social Division F, I have created a Blusky account. If you are interested in history of education or related topics, then give us a follow @aeradivf-history.bsky.social #histed #edhist
July 8, 2025 at 10:10 PM
As the secretary of @aeraedresearch.bsky.social Division F, I have created a Blusky account. If you are interested in history of education or related topics, then give us a follow @aeradivf-history.bsky.social #histed #edhist
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
It's not a "funding freeze" or "hold." It's an unlawful seizure of federal funds and it's categorically unconstitutional.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Trump’s $7 Billion Education Funding Freeze Blindsides Schools
Superintendents are scrambling to figure out what to do with programs funded by the money now under review.
www.wsj.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:02 PM
It's not a "funding freeze" or "hold." It's an unlawful seizure of federal funds and it's categorically unconstitutional.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Received an email that our son's after-school program, which has helped immensely throughout his foster and adoption journey, had its funding frozen and is in danger of completely shutting down this summer and beyond. It's illegal and it's immoral and it's just plain cruel. I will never forget this
Trump administration withholds $230 million for Pennsylvania schools • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Education advocates said the failure to release the funds was reckless and unlawful and would affect the state's most vulnerable students.
penncapital-star.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Received an email that our son's after-school program, which has helped immensely throughout his foster and adoption journey, had its funding frozen and is in danger of completely shutting down this summer and beyond. It's illegal and it's immoral and it's just plain cruel. I will never forget this
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
The latest on Trump’s education funding freeze: Some programs are starting to shut down, districts are rejiggering budgets, and everyone is scrambling to make sense of the chaos.
More on $6.8 billion withheld from K-12 schools: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
More on $6.8 billion withheld from K-12 schools: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
Schools and States Scramble as Trump Freezes $6.8 Billion in Federal Funds
After-school programs, English-learner services, migrant education programs, and professional development are all at risk.
www.edweek.org
July 1, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The latest on Trump’s education funding freeze: Some programs are starting to shut down, districts are rejiggering budgets, and everyone is scrambling to make sense of the chaos.
More on $6.8 billion withheld from K-12 schools: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
More on $6.8 billion withheld from K-12 schools: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
So, here it is. Thanks to a new state law that was NEVER DEBATED, Indiana University has committed itself to abolishing majors in African-American/African Diaspora Studies: American Studies; Art History; French; Italian; Religious Studies etc. DOZENS of majors. www.ipm.org/news-section...
Indiana public colleges cut almost 20% of degrees
Public Indiana colleges and universities have eliminated 19 percent of their degree programs to meet requirements added to the state’s budget, according to the Commission for Higher Education.
www.ipm.org
June 30, 2025 at 9:12 PM
So, here it is. Thanks to a new state law that was NEVER DEBATED, Indiana University has committed itself to abolishing majors in African-American/African Diaspora Studies: American Studies; Art History; French; Italian; Religious Studies etc. DOZENS of majors. www.ipm.org/news-section...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
UPDATE: The Indiana legislature announced that, across the state's public universities, it will immediately eliminate 75 programs, suspend/teach-out 101, and force 232 to consolidate or be eliminated. Not surprisingly, these closures disproportionately affect arts, humanities, and social science.
July 1, 2025 at 12:02 AM
UPDATE: The Indiana legislature announced that, across the state's public universities, it will immediately eliminate 75 programs, suspend/teach-out 101, and force 232 to consolidate or be eliminated. Not surprisingly, these closures disproportionately affect arts, humanities, and social science.
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
With generous support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Spencer Foundation, we are pleased to be offering the Just Education Policy Institute for doctoral students interested in research to reduce racial inequality in education policy this fall. Applications are open, due June 30.
June 15, 2025 at 4:46 AM
With generous support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Spencer Foundation, we are pleased to be offering the Just Education Policy Institute for doctoral students interested in research to reduce racial inequality in education policy this fall. Applications are open, due June 30.
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
🎉 Applications for the 2025 Just Education Policy Institute are now open! 🎉
Applications are due Jun 30. JEP 2025 will be held Oct 15-18, 2025 in Washington, DC. JEP helps developing scholars learn how, as a community, to conduct research that advances racial justice in education policy.
Applications are due Jun 30. JEP 2025 will be held Oct 15-18, 2025 in Washington, DC. JEP helps developing scholars learn how, as a community, to conduct research that advances racial justice in education policy.
June 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
🎉 Applications for the 2025 Just Education Policy Institute are now open! 🎉
Applications are due Jun 30. JEP 2025 will be held Oct 15-18, 2025 in Washington, DC. JEP helps developing scholars learn how, as a community, to conduct research that advances racial justice in education policy.
Applications are due Jun 30. JEP 2025 will be held Oct 15-18, 2025 in Washington, DC. JEP helps developing scholars learn how, as a community, to conduct research that advances racial justice in education policy.
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
The public meltdown happening between the world’s richest man 🙄 and the President of the United States 🙄🙄 once again begs the age-old question: are men simply too emotional to be in positions of power?
June 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM
The public meltdown happening between the world’s richest man 🙄 and the President of the United States 🙄🙄 once again begs the age-old question: are men simply too emotional to be in positions of power?
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
So, who is pulling together the team to draft Project 2029 (and interim steps toward it)? We need long term plans for:
1) the courts & upholding constitutional rights & core values
2) education (early childhood through graduate)
3) rebuilding science
4) public health
5) housing equality/access...
1) the courts & upholding constitutional rights & core values
2) education (early childhood through graduate)
3) rebuilding science
4) public health
5) housing equality/access...
May 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
So, who is pulling together the team to draft Project 2029 (and interim steps toward it)? We need long term plans for:
1) the courts & upholding constitutional rights & core values
2) education (early childhood through graduate)
3) rebuilding science
4) public health
5) housing equality/access...
1) the courts & upholding constitutional rights & core values
2) education (early childhood through graduate)
3) rebuilding science
4) public health
5) housing equality/access...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
On this day before the 71st anniversary of the Brown v Board of Education decision that declared school segregation inherently unequal, sharing a new publication written for the 70th anniversary examining why integration is eroding (open access): 🧵
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Eroding Integration: 21st Century Segregation Trends in U.S. Public and Charter Schools and Implications for the Enduring Promise of Brown - Erica Frankenberg, Caprial Farrington, Elizabeth H. DeBray,...
Drawing on Boddie’s adaptive discrimination framework, this article analyzes changes in demographic trends from 2002–2021. Our findings reveal a continuation of...
journals.sagepub.com
May 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
On this day before the 71st anniversary of the Brown v Board of Education decision that declared school segregation inherently unequal, sharing a new publication written for the 70th anniversary examining why integration is eroding (open access): 🧵
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
This is great news! Congratulations, Ericka!
I’m really proud of myself & the work I’ve been doing. I’m also thankful for the Foundation’s investment in my work, ideas, & me as a scholar! Amidst a political climate of disinvestment from justice-oriented work, shout out to WTG for “standing 10 toes down”! 1/3
www.gse.upenn.edu/news/ericka-...
www.gse.upenn.edu/news/ericka-...
Ericka Weathers selected for the William T. Grant Scholars Class of
This award will support the assistant professor in Penn GSE’s Policy, Organizations, and Leadership division in a five-year research plan on institutional responses to truancy.
www.gse.upenn.edu
May 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This is great news! Congratulations, Ericka!
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Our EEPA paper on the media's role in shaping our understanding of student loans, race, and racism is here! Email me if you don't have access & want a copy.
One of my fav papers for a few reasons but, most of all, it's my first paper with my husband 😍
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
One of my fav papers for a few reasons but, most of all, it's my first paper with my husband 😍
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
April 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Our EEPA paper on the media's role in shaping our understanding of student loans, race, and racism is here! Email me if you don't have access & want a copy.
One of my fav papers for a few reasons but, most of all, it's my first paper with my husband 😍
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
One of my fav papers for a few reasons but, most of all, it's my first paper with my husband 😍
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
Reposted by Matthew Gardner Kelly
Joining with TC colleagues to say, among other things, that elite universities need to see and hopefully act in solidarity with K-12 educators and school systems in this moment we are all under attack.
Trump threatens all education, not just universities
On April 21, former interim University President Katrina Armstrong <a href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/03/21/columbia-to-acquiesce-to-trump-administrations-demands-amid-federal-fundin...
www.columbiaspectator.com
April 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Joining with TC colleagues to say, among other things, that elite universities need to see and hopefully act in solidarity with K-12 educators and school systems in this moment we are all under attack.