We all want what’s best for our learners, but oftentimes biases get in the way of having productive conversations about what learning should look like in the classroom. Instead, we need to have evidence- and research-based conversations that support what truly works for our children.

This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Darleen Opfer of RAND, a nonprofit organization that’s committed to low income and minority students. Darleen started as a special education teacher but quickly saw a need for changes in schools and went on a mission to impact education policy for the better.

We talk about the loss of critical thinking skills as lawmakers remove topics from curriculum in some states, how demographics and culture impact both teaching and students success, and the impact of making decisions without sound and bipartisan research to back them up.

We can all be active in policy making, starting at our own schools level. Parent and teacher involvement is vital in ensuring that we focus on overall coherence in our schools.

Listen in!

About Darleen Opfer:

Darleen began her career as a special education teacher in Florida and then Virginia. After earning her Ph.D. in education policy at the University of Virginia, she became a professor of education policy. She served in that role at Georgia State University, Ohio State University, and the University of Cambridge, U.K.. Throughout her career, her focus has been on using evidence to improve schools for low-income and minority students.

In 2011 she joined RAND as Director of RAND Education. In October 2018 she was promoted to Vice President and became Director of the RAND Education and Labor Research Division; she also holds RAND’s Distinguished Chair in Education Policy. Darleen has conducted policy research studies for several local, state and national governments on issues that affect teachers and schools, including recruitment and retention, professional development, and impact of policies on teacher practice. Recently, she’s been conducting research on teachers’ use of curriculum and how coherent instructional systems impact low income and minority students’ achievement.

In addition to her research, she frequently serves as an advisor to international agencies and countries on teaching and teacher education including in Croatia, India, Israel, Norway, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the OECD.

Jump in the Conversation:

[1:35] – Where Darleen’s journey of school transformation began
[2:53] – Why policy doesn’t always work
[3:18] – What RAND Corporation does
[4:30] – What’s happening in politics with some of the key education conversations
[5:58] – Dropping curricula, which means they’re dropping things that are necessary for critical thinking
[7:24] – How RAND gets research out there to impact policy and education change
[9:18] – Impact of 4-day schools – the research
[11:44] – Solutions for low income and minority students
[13:32] – Districts and schools that focus on coherence are more effective
[16:50] – Demographic shifts and class culture
[20:27] – The idea of transferring paraprofessionals to teachers using stackable credentials
[22:51] – TALIS (Teaching and Learning International Survey) Video Study
[27:15] – Resources for infusing nonpartisan views in the classroom
[30:00] – How parents and educators can influence educational policy
[35:51] – Turbo Time
[36:50] – What people need to know about creating equity and access for all our learners
[38:25] – Darleen’s Magic Wand
[39:42] – Maureen’s Takeaways

Links & Resources

• RAND Corporation
• Follow Darleen on Twitter
• Follow RAND on Facebook
• Connect with Darleen on LinkedIn
• RAND Corporation: Coherent Instructional Systems
• Gates Foundation: Coherent Instructional Systems
• Episode 137: Creating Equity to Improve Education
• Seattle’s “Underground Railroad” library access
• Email Maureen
• Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools
• The Education Evolution
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• EdActive Collective
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep

Transcript: