2016 has been, in many ways, one for the history books. From Michael Phelps’ final Olympic tear to Donald Trump’s improbable electoral victory, from the Cubs’ 108-years-in-the-making World Series win to a continued—and provocative—discussion around race in America, the past year has been a whirlwind of events and discussions that cut to the core of what it means to be America and American. Those shifts—as well as more specific changes to education policy—similarly dominated conversation on our blogs.
The two lists that follow comprise fifteen of our most-read articles and, together, are a look at the tumultuous year that was. The first ten articles come from Fordham staff members, and the last five were written by guests.
The top ten Fordham-authored posts of 2016
1. President-elect Donald Trump quotes about education By Brandon Wright
We originally published this post in 2015 when Donald Trump announced his candidacy, but we updated it regularly throughout 2016 as the campaign progressed. Viewed approximately 75,000 times in 2016, perhaps the post’s popularity should have clued us in that something was resonating with Mr. Trump’s campaign.
2. The Left's drive to push conservatives out of education reform By Robert Pondiscio
Tying into broader conversations around Black Lives Matter, social justice, ideological diversity, and civil rights in the twenty-first century, this provocative piece sparked a serious debate within education reform about the appropriate shape and size of our big tent.
3. Hillary Clinton quotes about education By Brandon Wright
Similar to its companion piece for President-elect Trump, this roundup of Secretary Clinton’s views on education policy was updated regularly during 2016 and generated 13,000 views throughout the year.
4. Betsy DeVos quotes about education By Brandon Wright
Surprise, surprise, if you’ve read this far, number 4 is a breakdown of Betsy DeVos’s past statements on education.
5. 20 questions for Betsy DeVos By Michael Petrilli
Rounding out the top 5 is a primer on Betsy DeVos that offered journalists and Senators a ready-made set of questions for Betsy DeVos, the nominee for Secretary of Education.
6. Failing by design: How we make teaching too hard for mere mortals By Robert Pondiscio
Robert Pondiscio gets tough on one of his favorite topics—curriculum—as he wonders why teachers need to go DIY so often. This post was also Education Next’s most-read of the year.
7. The phoniest statistic in education By Robert Pondiscio
The high-school graduation rate has skyrocketed in the past decade, but is that a good thing? Robert Pondiscio calls the Department of Education’s bluff in this piece.
8. Some great ideas from our ESSA Accountability Design Competition By Michael Petrilli
February seems so long ago, and much has happened around ESSA implementation since then. But mere weeks after the law passed, we brought together more than a dozen experts to think through what accountability could—and should—look like under the new law. As states develop their plans, this has continued to be a worthwhile resource for policymakers.
9. "Why do I have to explain my answer?" Advice for parents in the age of Common Core By Michael Petrilli
Mike Petrilli’s years of analysis of the Common Core met its most skeptical critic yet: his third-grade son. After talking to experts, including teachers, this post provided suggestions for what parents can tell kids about shifts in teaching and learning.
10. Now what? By Michael Petrilli
The morning after the election, Mike charted a path forward for the disparate ed-reform movement.
***
Our commentary benefits greatly from a bevy of thoughtful and engaged guest bloggers. Their contributions are invaluable, and we’re incredibly grateful they graced our virtual pages. Here are this year’s most popular articles.
The top five Fordham guest posts of 2016
1. Can parents help with math homework? YES By Jason Zimba, Ph.D.
The lead writer of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and a founding partner of Student Achievement Partners gives expert tips to parents on how best to assist their sons and daughters with their math work.
2. Leaving talent on the table: Fixing gifted education in America By Norm Augustine and Rudy Crew
Many of our most able students still languish in classrooms geared toward their more-struggling peers. This piece explains how policymakers can fix that, and was written by Norm Augustine, former Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin and Under Secretary of the Army, and Rudy Crew, President of Medgar Evers College and former Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Chancellor of New York City Public Schools.
3. High-potential students thrive when school districts develop sustainable gifted services By Dina Brulles, Ph.D.
Dina Brulles, the director of gifted education at Paradise Valley Unified School District in Arizona, draws on her experience to explain how school districts can effectively serve their high achievers.
4. America's TIMSS results and educational excellence: We've exhausted all other options By Jonathan Plucker, Ph.D.
The third article in a row that focuses on high achieving students, this one analyzes America’s disappointing results on an important international test. Jonathan Plucker, the inaugural Julian C. Stanley Professor of Talent Development at Johns Hopkins University and a member of the National Association for Gifted Children board of directors, argues for a change of course that starts with better state accountability systems under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
5. What "Hamilton" and its 11 Tonys say about grit and privilege By Andy Smarick
The hit Broadway musical was important in myriad ways this year, and this article looks at what it says about the effects of hard work and advantage on America’s students. It’s penned by Andy Smarick, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
Special thanks to communications intern, Irene Mone, for her help compiling these lists. And congratulations to all of our bloggers!
