Education Policy | Penn Today

open laptop on a desk shows a video chat with a person wearing earbuds in an online learning environment

Guidelines for moving college courses online

In response to the coronavirus, college instructors are shifting their in-person courses online. Zachary Herrmann and Penn GSE’s Center for Professional Learning have some experience making this work.

Sophie Rosenfeld and Sigal Ben-Porath in College Hall

Understanding what makes a fact a fact

Professor of History Sophie Rosenfeld and Professor of Education Sigal Ben-Porath unite their perspectives on truth for Penn Today's first “Understand This ...” podcast episode.

Five people sit on a stage in discussion with an audience in front, on projection on wall behind them reads The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

The McGraw Prize partners with Penn GSE to celebrate education changemakers

Since 1988, the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education has honored innovators who are transforming teaching and learning. Penn GSE is now the new home of the prize, partnering with the McGraw family.

Four students hold certificates from Philadelphia Writing Project smiling and standing outdoors

How the city cultivates its youngest writers

Since 1986, The Philadelphia Writing Project has called Penn GSE home, which works with the city’s teachers and students to advance high-quality writing skills.

Tough conversations and innovative outlooks in higher ed

President Amy Gutmann and Graduate School of Education scholar Robert Zemsky took part in a “fireside chat” at this year’s Higher Education Leadership Conference at Penn, which also awarded Gutmann the Zemsky Medal.

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2020 is the perfect year to engage students as active citizens

In 2020, young people will get a clear look at how individual actions can shape government and policy, and how these affect their lives in tangible ways.

The Trump Administration is using accusations of anti-Semitism to silence criticism of Israel

Ian Lustick of the School of Arts and Sciences wrote an opinion piece about the current administration’s efforts to “chill free speech and criticism of Israel” using the Department of Education’s civil rights mandate.

Revolving door: Teachers, principals churn through HISD’s lowest-performing schools

Richard Ingersoll of the Graduate School of Education and School of Arts and Sciences spoke about the importance of teaching-staff retention. “We have 50 years of research that shows good schools have a sense of community and strong bonds,” he said. “The good schools, it’s not like a factory. It’s more like a family.”

Bernie Sanders unveils education plan to eliminate student loan debt

Joni E. Finney of the Graduate School of Education said presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ plan to eliminate student loan debt “doesn’t match the complexity of the cost education problem.”

What budget cuts during the Great Recession did to pupils’ test scores

A study co-authored by Matthew Steinberg of the Graduate School of Education was cited in an article about the effects of budget cuts on test scores in poor and minority school districts.

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