Dana Goldstein
@danagoldstein.bsky.social
4.2K followers 520 following 50 posts
New York Times reporter. I write mostly about education, writ broadly: how it impacts politics, culture, and family life. Enthusiastic fiction reader, home cook, mom.
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danagoldstein.bsky.social
Were you or your kids assigned full books to read in high school English — novels, nonfiction or plays from beginning to end — or mostly shorter excerpts? We are digging into this very controversial maybe-trend and need your help:

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/u...
Were You Assigned Full Books to Read in High School English? Tell Us.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Dana Goldstein
Read @danagoldstein.bsky.social ‬⁩ “The administration is using the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, which was established to protect racial and ethnic minority groups, to try to end programs meant to help some of those same students.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/u...
Some Programs for Black Students Become ‘Illegal D.E.I.’ Under Trump
www.nytimes.com
danagoldstein.bsky.social
Federal judge halts Trump effort to withdraw federal funding from schools and colleges with "illegal D.E.I." Judge says the effort violated administrative procedure and threatened free speech. White House likely to appeal. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/u...
Judge Halts White House Effort to Defund Schools With D.E.I. Programs
www.nytimes.com
danagoldstein.bsky.social
join us right now for a discussion on what's happening in K-12 education politics www.aei.org/events/whats...
www.aei.org
danagoldstein.bsky.social
Tomorrow, 3 pm, a discussion on what's going on in K-12 education politics, between me and Rick Hess of AEI. Please join us virtually. www.aei.org/events/whats...
www.aei.org
danagoldstein.bsky.social
The private-school-choice movement is on the verge of a victory that has eluded it: Pushing school vouchers into all 50 states, even the liberal ones. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/u...
Federal School Voucher Proposal Advances, a Milestone for Conservatives
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Dana Goldstein
nickkristof.bsky.social
Excellent piece by @danagoldstein.bsky.social about how both parties have walked away from efforts to improve student learning. We're caught in culture wars set in schools, but much less focused on whether kids can read and whether they graduate from high school. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/u...
Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning?
www.nytimes.com
danagoldstein.bsky.social
will also die on this hill
danagoldstein.bsky.social
Essential reading for anyone who cares about education, for parents, and all citizens. I began using deep research AI over the past several months. It is challenging and reshaping my vision of what literacy and literate culture will be in our lifetimes. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Will the Humanities Survive Artificial Intelligence?
Maybe not as we’ve known them. But, in the ruins of the old curriculum, something vital is stirring.
www.newyorker.com
Reposted by Dana Goldstein
jonathanweisman.bsky.social
Once a movement held at bay, the push to give taxpayer-funded vouchers to virtually any parent with a school-age child has secured wins in every major red state, Texas the latest and biggest. Now activists have their eyes on blue states, and Congress hopes to oblige. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/u...
School Vouchers Won in Texas. Next Up, the Nation.
Choice laws have now passed in every major Republican state. Congress and President Trump are now aiming at blue states that have resisted vouchers for decades.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Dana Goldstein
robertkelchen.com
Two noteworthy things about the White House press release ahead of today's announcement regarding ED:

(1) It's all about K-12, while most federal money goes to higher ed.
(2) Most of the links are to NCES reports...and NCES is now down to about three employees.

www.whitehouse.gov/articles/202...
Since 1979, the U.S. Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion with virtually nothing to show for it. Despite per-pupil spending having increased by more than 245% over that period, there has been virtually no measurable improvement in student achievement:

    Math and reading scores for 13-year-olds are at the lowest level in decades.
    Six-in-ten fourth graders and nearly three-quarters of eighth graders are not proficient in math.
    Seven-in-ten fourth and eighth graders are not proficient in reading, while 40% of fourth grade students don’t even meet basic reading levels.
    Standardized test scores have remained flat for decades.
    U.S. students rank 28 out of 37 OECD member countries in math.

President Donald J. Trump and his administration believe we can, and must, be better.

Instead of maintaining the status quo that is failing American students, the Trump Administration’s bold plan will return education where it belongs — with individual states, which are best positioned to administer effective programs and services that benefit their own unique populations and needs.

Instead of a bloated federal system that burdens schools with regulations and paperwork, the Trump Administration believes states should be empowered to expand educational freedom and opportunity for all families.

Why would we keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result?
danagoldstein.bsky.social
Latest on the case of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, the kidney transplant specialist and Brown U professor detained and deported in potential defiance of a court order.

Foreign doctors are crucial in her field, as there is a shortage of Americans: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/u...
Brown University Professor and Doctor Is Deported to Lebanon Despite a Judge’s Order
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist and Brown University professor who had a valid visa, was expelled in apparent defiance of a court order.
www.nytimes.com
danagoldstein.bsky.social
NEW: 5 years later, what did we learn about school closures for the next pandemic? We interviewed over a dozen education, health and political leaders about where they now stand, any regrets, and what should happen next time www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/u...
Would Schools Close in a Future Pandemic?
Five years after the global Covid pandemic was declared, there is widespread agreement that closing classrooms was devastating for children. Here is what leaders say they may do next time.
www.nytimes.com
danagoldstein.bsky.social
I keep hearing the question: What's the biggest impact of Trump education disruptions so far? My answer: Research. Data. Knowledge on how students are doing and how schools might improve. All of this is being decimated. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/u...
Are Schools Succeeding? Education Department Cuts Could Make It Hard to Know
At least 800 education department research employees and outside partners have lost jobs. The cuts will decimate research and data collection.
www.nytimes.com
danagoldstein.bsky.social
Hi Betsy. I am so sorry you're impacted by this. I am reporting on the cuts at IES for the NY Times. Can I give you a call? [email protected]. 212 556 1774
danagoldstein.bsky.social
Hi Jeff - I am reporting on the cuts at NCES for the NY Times. Can I give you a call? [email protected]. 212 556 1774
danagoldstein.bsky.social
I’m on The Daily, unpacking the fundamental paradox at the heart of Trump’s education agenda: how he wants to abolish the agency he is also aggressively using to fight a culture war podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Trump Takes Aim at the Department of Education
Podcast Episode · The Daily · 03/10/2025 · 26m
podcasts.apple.com