Josh McCarty
@joshmccarty.bsky.social
CEO of Good Points Communications. I also write about comms and messaging at https://thegoodpoints.substack.com/
Pinned
Josh McCarty
@joshmccarty.bsky.social
· Dec 20
What I read and wrote in 2024 (and what's to come)
And a thank you
open.substack.com
Just wrapped the final Just the Good Points newsletter for 2024 with the books on communications and influence that shaped my thinking this year, plus a look at what's ahead for next year.
Reposted by Josh McCarty
Gorgeous post by @anya1anya.bsky.social.
"We adapt to the unforgivable, we continue on despite the unimaginable, we pray in the rubble.
This is beautiful and nothing less than human, yet it is profoundly dangerous."
open.substack.com/pub/thegolde...
"We adapt to the unforgivable, we continue on despite the unimaginable, we pray in the rubble.
This is beautiful and nothing less than human, yet it is profoundly dangerous."
open.substack.com/pub/thegolde...
The Dangerous Beauty of Normal Life Right Now
Nothing is normal right now, but it doesn’t always feel that way
open.substack.com
June 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Gorgeous post by @anya1anya.bsky.social.
"We adapt to the unforgivable, we continue on despite the unimaginable, we pray in the rubble.
This is beautiful and nothing less than human, yet it is profoundly dangerous."
open.substack.com/pub/thegolde...
"We adapt to the unforgivable, we continue on despite the unimaginable, we pray in the rubble.
This is beautiful and nothing less than human, yet it is profoundly dangerous."
open.substack.com/pub/thegolde...
Reposted by Josh McCarty
What drives me crazy about the anti-DEI rhetoric is everyone wants to be judged on merit. But you can't be judged on merit if you can't even get in the door because you don't fit some prejudiced definition of who is capable and who isn't
February 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
What drives me crazy about the anti-DEI rhetoric is everyone wants to be judged on merit. But you can't be judged on merit if you can't even get in the door because you don't fit some prejudiced definition of who is capable and who isn't
Reposted by Josh McCarty
The NAEP 2024 -2025 Long Term Trend Age 17 assessment will not be administered in the upcoming weeks
Unbroken testing series since early 1970s
Nothing like ignorance to keep our country moving forward
Unbroken testing series since early 1970s
Nothing like ignorance to keep our country moving forward
February 21, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The NAEP 2024 -2025 Long Term Trend Age 17 assessment will not be administered in the upcoming weeks
Unbroken testing series since early 1970s
Nothing like ignorance to keep our country moving forward
Unbroken testing series since early 1970s
Nothing like ignorance to keep our country moving forward
Reposted by Josh McCarty
After completing a five-year trial involving hands-on science lessons, students in 19 North and South Carolina elementary schools see higher test scores in science, reading and math: www.the74million.org/article/smit...
Smithsonian Science Curriculum + Teacher Training = Learning Gains in 3 Subjects
After five-year trial involving hands-on lessons, students in 19 North and South Carolina schools see higher test scores in science, reading and math.
www.the74million.org
February 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
After completing a five-year trial involving hands-on science lessons, students in 19 North and South Carolina elementary schools see higher test scores in science, reading and math: www.the74million.org/article/smit...
Reposted by Josh McCarty
🧵 If you’re applauding the abolishment of the Department of Education, you need to do a little research. You have ZERO clue what the DOE actually does.
Here’s a reality check on what the Department of Education actually does:
(1/14)
Here’s a reality check on what the Department of Education actually does:
(1/14)
February 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
🧵 If you’re applauding the abolishment of the Department of Education, you need to do a little research. You have ZERO clue what the DOE actually does.
Here’s a reality check on what the Department of Education actually does:
(1/14)
Here’s a reality check on what the Department of Education actually does:
(1/14)
Reposted by Josh McCarty
Adding '-AI' to Google search has changed my life.
January 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Adding '-AI' to Google search has changed my life.
Just wrapped the final Just the Good Points newsletter for 2024 with the books on communications and influence that shaped my thinking this year, plus a look at what's ahead for next year.
What I read and wrote in 2024 (and what's to come)
And a thank you
open.substack.com
December 20, 2024 at 4:54 PM
Just wrapped the final Just the Good Points newsletter for 2024 with the books on communications and influence that shaped my thinking this year, plus a look at what's ahead for next year.
Reposted by Josh McCarty
Over the past couple years, I've been working with colleagues to build a new policy research center at @uscrossier.bsky.social. The @uscedpolicyhub.bsky.social conducts applied research to support Southern California education agencies. Excited to be building something big in LA!
Excited to be on Bluesky! We're a policy research center at @uscrossier.bsky.social, led by @fullerjo.bsky.social, @annarsaavedra.bsky.social, @mpolikoff.bsky.social, and @patriciaburch.bsky.social, focused on research-practice partnerships in Southern California. More to come!
December 17, 2024 at 10:42 PM
Over the past couple years, I've been working with colleagues to build a new policy research center at @uscrossier.bsky.social. The @uscedpolicyhub.bsky.social conducts applied research to support Southern California education agencies. Excited to be building something big in LA!
The most powerful messaging isn't always about appearing perfect. Strategically acknowledging vulnerabilities can actually enhance credibility and influence. open.substack.com/pub/thegoodp...
It's OK for your messaging to acknowledge small vulnerabilities
On the Power of Owning Your Shortcomings
open.substack.com
December 11, 2024 at 6:07 PM
The most powerful messaging isn't always about appearing perfect. Strategically acknowledging vulnerabilities can actually enhance credibility and influence. open.substack.com/pub/thegoodp...
Reposted by Josh McCarty
Love this Jealousy List from @the74.bsky.social: the best education stories from other publications. The graphics on this year's list are particularly fun. www.the74million.org/article/the-...
The Jealousy List: 16 Education Articles We Wish We Had Written in 2024
The 74 staff’s annual compilation of education stories we felt were the most impactful over the last year.
www.the74million.org
December 10, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Love this Jealousy List from @the74.bsky.social: the best education stories from other publications. The graphics on this year's list are particularly fun. www.the74million.org/article/the-...
Reposted by Josh McCarty
💡Pro tip: Jump start your feed on Bluesky. Please follow and share this Education News Starter Pack! go.bsky.app/UccLjhX
November 18, 2024 at 5:55 PM
💡Pro tip: Jump start your feed on Bluesky. Please follow and share this Education News Starter Pack! go.bsky.app/UccLjhX
Reposted by Josh McCarty
Even though school vaccination requirements are set by states, RFK Jr. (if confirmed) has several levers he could pull to influence or weaken those rules. Here's how: www.edweek.org/policy-polit... #EDUsky #health #politics #news
What Could RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary Mean for School Vaccine Requirements?
The vaccine skeptic in line to lead the mammoth federal agency could influence schools' vaccine rules, even though they're set by states.
www.edweek.org
November 18, 2024 at 8:30 PM
Even though school vaccination requirements are set by states, RFK Jr. (if confirmed) has several levers he could pull to influence or weaken those rules. Here's how: www.edweek.org/policy-polit... #EDUsky #health #politics #news
Reposted by Josh McCarty
Let's gooooooooooooooooooooo
An U.S. education news reporter starter pack! 🎉 Please let us know if we missed anyone. ❤️ You're going to want to follow these folks to make sense of what promises to be a tumultuous presidential term.
go.bsky.app/UccLjhX
go.bsky.app/UccLjhX
Education News Starter Pack
Join the conversation
go.bsky.app
November 18, 2024 at 8:18 PM
Let's gooooooooooooooooooooo
Reposted by Josh McCarty
A good message for survey advocates and survey skeptics alike. Interpreting survey findings correctly is almost always about the big picture and not about any one data point. Very true on education issues where information is low.
(The one addendum I'd put on this is that the degree to which framing matters varies considerably by issue, and the mere presence of that volatility -- and how it manifests -- can itself say a lot about strength of opinion and how people are approaching the issue.)
You probably already know that question wording matters a lot in polling. But this chart from @aedwardslevy.bsky.social at @cnn.com underscores the point: Public support for mass deportation varies from 62% to 33%, depending on how the question is asked. www.cnn.com/2024/11/17/p...
November 18, 2024 at 3:35 PM
A good message for survey advocates and survey skeptics alike. Interpreting survey findings correctly is almost always about the big picture and not about any one data point. Very true on education issues where information is low.
Every good comms strategy should clarify the primary audiences and what they need to know, feel, or do. I think there should be one additional step, though. Writing in big, bold letters - ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE OTHER SHIT TO DO.
Keeping in mind the reader's perspective
On being short and interesting
thegoodpoints.substack.com
November 18, 2024 at 3:18 PM
Every good comms strategy should clarify the primary audiences and what they need to know, feel, or do. I think there should be one additional step, though. Writing in big, bold letters - ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE OTHER SHIT TO DO.