Michael Petrilli
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
President of the Fordham Institute, executive editor of Education Next, proud father.
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
3) Hanushek and Rivkin found working conditions play a larger role in teacher retention between sites. They note a few areas of potential investment that would be more effective than salary increases: behavior supports and improved leadership to start.
hanushek.stanford.edu/publications...
hanushek.stanford.edu/publications...
Pay, Working Conditions, and Teacher Quality | Eric A. Hanushek
Eric Hanushek and Steven Rivkin examine how salary and working conditions affect the quality of instruction in the classroom. The wages of teachers relative to those of other college graduates have fa...
hanushek.stanford.edu
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
3) Hanushek and Rivkin found working conditions play a larger role in teacher retention between sites. They note a few areas of potential investment that would be more effective than salary increases: behavior supports and improved leadership to start.
hanushek.stanford.edu/publications...
hanushek.stanford.edu/publications...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
2) If early-career earnings for credentialed teachers are higher for those hired into teaching roles, it suggests that those who pursued other options were wooed by something other than salary.
caldercenter.org/publications...
caldercenter.org/publications...
Out of the Gate, but Not Necessarily Teaching: A Descriptive Portrait of Early-Career Earnings for Those Who Are Credentialed to Teach | CALDER Center
caldercenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
2) If early-career earnings for credentialed teachers are higher for those hired into teaching roles, it suggests that those who pursued other options were wooed by something other than salary.
caldercenter.org/publications...
caldercenter.org/publications...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
1) If teachers leaving the profession are typically earning less than they were in the classroom, that working conditions > compensation. Certainly this is complicated by some percentage of leavers who were going to leave no matter what.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
1) If teachers leaving the profession are typically earning less than they were in the classroom, that working conditions > compensation. Certainly this is complicated by some percentage of leavers who were going to leave no matter what.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
Data on compensation vs. working conditions are mixed, as this excerpt from @aefpweb.bsky.social Live Handbook notes, but there are three studies that I find more persuasive on compensation vs. working conditions.
livehandbook.org/k-12-educati...
livehandbook.org/k-12-educati...
livehandbook.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Data on compensation vs. working conditions are mixed, as this excerpt from @aefpweb.bsky.social Live Handbook notes, but there are three studies that I find more persuasive on compensation vs. working conditions.
livehandbook.org/k-12-educati...
livehandbook.org/k-12-educati...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
I don't agree that working conditions are more important than pay (these things are very difficult to compare) but it is true at some margin teachers prefer more support staff than higher salaries. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
Investing in the Teacher Workforce: Experimental Evidence on Teachers’ Preferences - Virginia S. Lovison, Cecilia Hyunjung Mo, 2024
Inadequate compensation is often viewed as the root of teacher workforce challenges despite teacher reports that working conditions matter more. Using an origin...
journals.sagepub.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I don't agree that working conditions are more important than pay (these things are very difficult to compare) but it is true at some margin teachers prefer more support staff than higher salaries. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
I don't know that it's strange: the literature already points to working conditions playing a larger role than compensation in teachers' decision to change employers or leave the profession.
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I don't know that it's strange: the literature already points to working conditions playing a larger role than compensation in teachers' decision to change employers or leave the profession.
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
I wouldn't characterize the main point of school funding reform as boosting teacher salaries. It helps students - @kirabojackson.bsky.social's opening plenary at SREE covered that in great detail.
The teacher compensation reform literature seems a bit more mixed. There's room for improvement.
The teacher compensation reform literature seems a bit more mixed. There's room for improvement.
November 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I wouldn't characterize the main point of school funding reform as boosting teacher salaries. It helps students - @kirabojackson.bsky.social's opening plenary at SREE covered that in great detail.
The teacher compensation reform literature seems a bit more mixed. There's room for improvement.
The teacher compensation reform literature seems a bit more mixed. There's room for improvement.
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
I think that's partially right, but if anything the empirical evidence suggests unions limit this trend from being even more extreme edworkingpapers.com/sites/defaul...
edworkingpapers.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I think that's partially right, but if anything the empirical evidence suggests unions limit this trend from being even more extreme edworkingpapers.com/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
exactly and many schools of choice actively market their small classes/staffing ratios. this trend appears to be a market response—which doesn't necessarily mean it's optimal!—as much as anything else.
November 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
exactly and many schools of choice actively market their small classes/staffing ratios. this trend appears to be a market response—which doesn't necessarily mean it's optimal!—as much as anything else.
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
The expensive private schools rich people send their kids to are full of moderate-salary teachers in very small classes.
November 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The expensive private schools rich people send their kids to are full of moderate-salary teachers in very small classes.
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
it's also notable that the same trend (greater investment in people than salaries) show up in private schools. for better or worse this may reflect schools' response to what parents want.
November 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
it's also notable that the same trend (greater investment in people than salaries) show up in private schools. for better or worse this may reflect schools' response to what parents want.
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
what is the evidence that higher salaries are a better investment than more people? I think the research is mixed and unclear here. See eg www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Rent-Seeking through collective bargaining: Teachers unions and education production☆
We explore how teachers unions affect education production by comparing outcomes between districts allocating new tax revenue amidst collective bargai…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
what is the evidence that higher salaries are a better investment than more people? I think the research is mixed and unclear here. See eg www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
Yes, but the structure of that investment matters. While raising teacher salaries across the board might increase teacher quality some, it's likely an investment that is a mile wide and inch deep. I'd invest in the pain points in the labor market, i.e., in some subjects and hard to staff schools. +👇
November 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Yes, but the structure of that investment matters. While raising teacher salaries across the board might increase teacher quality some, it's likely an investment that is a mile wide and inch deep. I'd invest in the pain points in the labor market, i.e., in some subjects and hard to staff schools. +👇
School funding reform has failed to boost teacher salaries, especially for those serving in high-need schools.
Should we focus state advocacy efforts on teacher compensation reform instead?
I say yes. What do you say?
Should we focus state advocacy efforts on teacher compensation reform instead?
I say yes. What do you say?
November 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
School funding reform has failed to boost teacher salaries, especially for those serving in high-need schools.
Should we focus state advocacy efforts on teacher compensation reform instead?
I say yes. What do you say?
Should we focus state advocacy efforts on teacher compensation reform instead?
I say yes. What do you say?
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
Recognizing the success of past reforms shows what’s possible for #NJ and the U.S. in the decades ahead. @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social helpfully highlights the methods that led to the achievements of the 90s and aughts in this article for @the74.bsky.social:
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
The Remarkable Educational Attainment Gains of the School Reform Era
Petrilli: The declines in student performance since 2013 are real, and distressing. But they came on the heels of 2 decades of remarkable progress.
www.the74million.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Recognizing the success of past reforms shows what’s possible for #NJ and the U.S. in the decades ahead. @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social helpfully highlights the methods that led to the achievements of the 90s and aughts in this article for @the74.bsky.social:
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
Point/counterpoint on AI in higher ed.
John McWhorter: "These developments don’t keep me up at night." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Anastasia Berg: "It is [the] seemingly benign functions [of AI] that are the most pernicious for developing minds." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
John McWhorter: "These developments don’t keep me up at night." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Anastasia Berg: "It is [the] seemingly benign functions [of AI] that are the most pernicious for developing minds." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
My Students Use AI. So What?
Young people are reading less and relying on bots, but there are other ways to teach people how to think.
www.theatlantic.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Point/counterpoint on AI in higher ed.
John McWhorter: "These developments don’t keep me up at night." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Anastasia Berg: "It is [the] seemingly benign functions [of AI] that are the most pernicious for developing minds." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
John McWhorter: "These developments don’t keep me up at night." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Anastasia Berg: "It is [the] seemingly benign functions [of AI] that are the most pernicious for developing minds." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
If you've ever had to deal with the maddening, expensive child care and preschool market, consider the strong possibility that Trump's education agenda will turn the entire K-12 school system into the same mess. My latest in @usatoday.com:
www.msn.com/en-us/news/o...
www.msn.com/en-us/news/o...
MSN
www.msn.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If you've ever had to deal with the maddening, expensive child care and preschool market, consider the strong possibility that Trump's education agenda will turn the entire K-12 school system into the same mess. My latest in @usatoday.com:
www.msn.com/en-us/news/o...
www.msn.com/en-us/news/o...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
cc: @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social since he's always saying we need more K-12 discourse here....
October 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
cc: @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social since he's always saying we need more K-12 discourse here....
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social: The remarkable education attainment gains of the school reform era
The Remarkable Educational Attainment Gains of the School Reform Era
Petrilli: The declines in student performance since 2013 are real, and distressing. But they came on the heels of 2 decades of remarkable progress.
www.the74million.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social: The remarkable education attainment gains of the school reform era
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
also a good point. these trends are very striking. Seems likely that deseg contributed, though don't think we know the precise causes
October 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
also a good point. these trends are very striking. Seems likely that deseg contributed, though don't think we know the precise causes
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
yeah I couldn't immediately find a race breakdown for the most recent data, rendered the same way, though I imagine it's out there. Here's data with Black students running through the '70s cohorts.
October 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
yeah I couldn't immediately find a race breakdown for the most recent data, rendered the same way, though I imagine it's out there. Here's data with Black students running through the '70s cohorts.
High school graduation standards are in freefall.
Is everybody cool with that?
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/high-schoo...
Is everybody cool with that?
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/high-schoo...
High school graduation standards have collapsed. Does it matter?
SCHOOLED | Tuesday, 10/21/25
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:52 PM
High school graduation standards are in freefall.
Is everybody cool with that?
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/high-schoo...
Is everybody cool with that?
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/high-schoo...
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
Great discussion here 👇
Hi folks. Thanks for the great input, especially @drconstance.bsky.social & @jenjennings.bsky.social! See a round up of thoughts about this here: schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/progressiv...
Progressives for advanced education
SCHOOLED | Friday, 10/17/25
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Great discussion here 👇
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
Get Schooled by @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
Hi folks. Thanks for the great input, especially @drconstance.bsky.social & @jenjennings.bsky.social! See a round up of thoughts about this here: schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/progressiv...
Progressives for advanced education
SCHOOLED | Friday, 10/17/25
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Get Schooled by @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Petrilli
"The declines we’ve seen since 2013 or so came on the heels of two decades of remarkable progress" @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
The remarkable educational attainment gains of the reform era
What’s missing in today’s conversations about American education is that the declines we’ve seen since 2013 or so came on the heels of two decades of remarkable progress. Perhaps my fellow ed-policy w...
fordhaminstitute.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
"The declines we’ve seen since 2013 or so came on the heels of two decades of remarkable progress" @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...