Morgan Polikoff
@mpolikoff.bsky.social
🏳️🌈 Educational researcher. Professor at USC Rossier. Co-director of USC EdPolicy Hub. These are my views, not those of my employer. 🏳️🌈
Really nice and approachable piece from @mattbarnum.bsky.social about the challenges of evaluating new school choice programs (which I happen to especially like because I'm just finishing this chapter of my book!) www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/27/a...
Are private school choice programs helping students?
Researchers say it may prove difficult to answer this question.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 27, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Really nice and approachable piece from @mattbarnum.bsky.social about the challenges of evaluating new school choice programs (which I happen to especially like because I'm just finishing this chapter of my book!) www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/27/a...
It's tough sometimes to have hope, but this article will give you hope www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Minnesota Proved MAGA Wrong
The pushback against ICE exposed a series of mistaken assumptions.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's tough sometimes to have hope, but this article will give you hope www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
"Every social theory undergirding Trumpism has been broken on the steel of Minnesotan resolve. The multiracial community in Minneapolis was supposed to shatter. It did not. It held until Bovino was forced out of the Twin Cities with his long coat between his legs" www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 4:54 PM
"Every social theory undergirding Trumpism has been broken on the steel of Minnesotan resolve. The multiracial community in Minneapolis was supposed to shatter. It did not. It held until Bovino was forced out of the Twin Cities with his long coat between his legs" www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
I spent four days in the cold and snow in NYC, barely escaping, and that was enough winter for me. Thank you, Los Angeles.
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I spent four days in the cold and snow in NYC, barely escaping, and that was enough winter for me. Thank you, Los Angeles.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
New teacher education research out in the wild... a short thread on this: journals.sagepub.com/eprint/TBNBB...
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Clinical Experiences and (Unexpected Findings on) Job Placements: Experimental Evidence From Student Teaching Interventions - Dan Goldhaber, Matt Ronfeldt, James Cowan, Emanuele Bardelli, Trevor Gratz...
We implemented two reforms to student teaching in randomized controlled trials designed to test improvements to preservice preparation. Although neither reform ...
journals.sagepub.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:29 PM
New teacher education research out in the wild... a short thread on this: journals.sagepub.com/eprint/TBNBB...
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Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
"Despite efforts to diversify the profession in recent years, there is little change in the proportion of teachers of color. ... [and] we find growing disparities between teacher qualifications and preparedness in rural and nonrural school contexts." journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:47 PM
"Despite efforts to diversify the profession in recent years, there is little change in the proportion of teachers of color. ... [and] we find growing disparities between teacher qualifications and preparedness in rural and nonrural school contexts." journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3...
I was somewhat surprised to learn that so few states offer teachers paid parental leave www.nctq.org/research-ins...
State of the States: Investing in Teachers and Families Through Paid Parental Leave - National Council on Teacher Quality
www.nctq.org
January 27, 2026 at 3:46 PM
I was somewhat surprised to learn that so few states offer teachers paid parental leave www.nctq.org/research-ins...
Does anyone know what's up with the California School Dashboard's growth measure? It doesn't *seem* to match the growth model that was approved by the state, though honest to god I'm not sure I know how it's even being calculated given the description. www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/0161...
California School Dashboard (CA Dept of Education)
The California School Dashboard provides parents and educators with meaningful information on school and district progress so they can participate in decisions to improve student learning.
www.caschooldashboard.org
January 26, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Does anyone know what's up with the California School Dashboard's growth measure? It doesn't *seem* to match the growth model that was approved by the state, though honest to god I'm not sure I know how it's even being calculated given the description. www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/0161...
Really important new work from my UAS research team using our probability-based national panel to look at parent AND teen support for cellphone policies in schools. High level: nearly everyone supports major restrictions. www.brookings.edu/articles/sur...
Survey: Parents and teens support school cellphone bans, and most don’t perceive major downsides | Brookings
Surveys show widespread cellphone bans have strong teen and parent support, reducing use in school but not eliminating it.
www.brookings.edu
January 26, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Really important new work from my UAS research team using our probability-based national panel to look at parent AND teen support for cellphone policies in schools. High level: nearly everyone supports major restrictions. www.brookings.edu/articles/sur...
Why don’t coaches kick field goals anymore 🥲
January 26, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Why don’t coaches kick field goals anymore 🥲
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
Snowed in? As long as you've still got power or cell service, it's a great time to send some emails or make some calls.
![Script from 5calls:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
[IF CALLING SENATE]: I’m calling to ask that [REP/SEN NAME] push to defund ICE by opposing any appropriations bill that maintains ICE funding and supporting legislation that claws back the $75 billion ICE slush fund created by H.R. 1 last year. This lawless agency is violently attacking and killing immigrants and citizens around the country and must be defunded and dissolved for good.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dtgy62tymnpbnzozbpgnov56/bafkreiduroytj3ttr4lttng3fl3pm4qyyiearkvbk24ybtbq22bdyxgxly@jpeg)
January 25, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Snowed in? As long as you've still got power or cell service, it's a great time to send some emails or make some calls.
Joel and I were on the actual last flight that took off from any New York City airport today (Delta 773). Unbelievable good fortune.
The number of U.S. flights canceled on Sunday reached levels not seen since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as a winter storm blanketed much of the country, data shows.
Winter Storm Drives U.S. Flight Cancellations to Pandemic-Level Numbers
More than 8,230 departures were canceled on Sunday, more than on any other day since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
nyti.ms
January 25, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Joel and I were on the actual last flight that took off from any New York City airport today (Delta 773). Unbelievable good fortune.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
Call the piece of legislation that ultimately abolishes ICE the Pretti-Good Act
January 25, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Call the piece of legislation that ultimately abolishes ICE the Pretti-Good Act
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
Two and half minutes. That’s all the time the CBS Evening News thought today’s events in Minneapolis were worth. Not even time to tell viewers what Alex Pretti did for a living.
The winter storm got 8 minutes.
NBC Nightly News spent 8 minutes, nearly half the show, on Pretti’s killing
The winter storm got 8 minutes.
NBC Nightly News spent 8 minutes, nearly half the show, on Pretti’s killing
January 25, 2026 at 5:41 AM
Two and half minutes. That’s all the time the CBS Evening News thought today’s events in Minneapolis were worth. Not even time to tell viewers what Alex Pretti did for a living.
The winter storm got 8 minutes.
NBC Nightly News spent 8 minutes, nearly half the show, on Pretti’s killing
The winter storm got 8 minutes.
NBC Nightly News spent 8 minutes, nearly half the show, on Pretti’s killing
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
There ya go. That’s the message.
January 25, 2026 at 1:35 AM
There ya go. That’s the message.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
look i’m not going to pretend that the industrial titans of ye olde times had civic virtue but at least they pretended like the country was more important than getting a 1.5% tax cut
cook is a sniveling worm
cook is a sniveling worm
On tonight’s White House agenda:
Trump and guests will get a private screening of MELANIA, the documentary about the First Lady, @thr.com reports.
Attendees include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Mike Tyson, per the article.
Trump and guests will get a private screening of MELANIA, the documentary about the First Lady, @thr.com reports.
Attendees include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Mike Tyson, per the article.
January 25, 2026 at 2:17 AM
look i’m not going to pretend that the industrial titans of ye olde times had civic virtue but at least they pretended like the country was more important than getting a 1.5% tax cut
cook is a sniveling worm
cook is a sniveling worm
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
as a parent I cannot imagine how absolutely fucking heartbreaking and awful it must be to have to put out a statement like this because the federal government killed your son and is telling monstrous lies about him
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 1:05 AM
as a parent I cannot imagine how absolutely fucking heartbreaking and awful it must be to have to put out a statement like this because the federal government killed your son and is telling monstrous lies about him
There is really no punishment that could bring justice for what they’ve done.
January 25, 2026 at 1:44 AM
There is really no punishment that could bring justice for what they’ve done.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
Alex’s parents:
January 25, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Alex’s parents:
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
People are terrified of our government. This isn’t a healthy democracy.
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:24 AM
People are terrified of our government. This isn’t a healthy democracy.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
He was trying to help someone and they murdered him for it.
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 10:21 PM
He was trying to help someone and they murdered him for it.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
This could end any day. Republicans in Congress are choosing not to do so.
Reminder: All it would take to end the murder of American citizens by an untrained government goon squad is 16 Republicans in Congress voting with Dems to defund ICE (or 23 to impeach and remove Trump — 3 in House & 20 in Senate). That’s it. 23 Americans can vote for the public and end all of this.
January 24, 2026 at 9:09 PM
This could end any day. Republicans in Congress are choosing not to do so.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
I genuinely think boycotting the World Cup is some of the strongest leverage the Europeans have.
A German soccer federation executive committee member says it's time to consider a World Cup boycott because of the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
German soccer federation official wants World Cup boycott considered because of Trump
A German soccer federation executive committee member says it’s time to consider a World Cup boycott because of the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
bit.ly
January 24, 2026 at 12:39 AM
I genuinely think boycotting the World Cup is some of the strongest leverage the Europeans have.
Reposted by Morgan Polikoff
I *deeply* appreciate this point from Dr. Jennings.
I’m in awe of what schools are doing daily to hold kids & families up when other institutions won’t.
A lesson for ed research so committed to “schools as oppression machines” that it can’t see them as sites of care, protection, and dignity.
A lesson for ed research so committed to “schools as oppression machines” that it can’t see them as sites of care, protection, and dignity.
Fear, arrests and know-your-rights: How one school district is grappling with ICE coming to town
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — “They took her, they took her, they took her.” Those were some of the words Assistant Principal Cora Muñoz could discern while on the phone with the guardian of one of her students.…
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — “They took her, they took her, they took her.” Those were some of the words Assistant Principal Cora Muñoz could discern while on the phone with the guardian of one of her students.…
January 23, 2026 at 12:50 PM
I *deeply* appreciate this point from Dr. Jennings.