The Learning Curve

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Dr. Kathryn Hughes, academic historian and award-winning author of George Eliot: The Last Victorian. Dr. Hughes discusses the significance of 19th-century novelist Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, in shaping British literature and capturing the societal tensions of the Victorian era. She highlights Eliot's formative years in rural Warwickshire, her intellectual and scandalous personal relationship with the philosopher George Henry Lewes, and how her unconventional experiences shaped her writing. Additionally, she delves into Eliot's most celebrated works, including Adam Bede, Silas Marner, and Middlemarch. Dr. Hughes reflects on recurring themes of marriage, women's roles, and political reform, solidifying her reputation as one of the greatest writers of the 19th century and ensuring her lasting impact on modern readers. She concludes the interview with an excerpt from her book, George Eliot: The Last Victorian.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and American Federation for Children Senior Fellow Shaka Mitchell interview John Kirtley, Managing Partner and co-founder of Keswick Partners, and founder and Chairman of Step Up For Students, a nonprofit that manages Florida's state-funded K-12 scholarship programs serving over half a million students. Kirtley shares his journey from the private sector into education reform in the late 1990s, and why business leaders must actively engage in shaping K-12 policy. He reflects on Florida's steady, incremental expansion of school choice programs, explaining how this long-term approach built a critical mass of school choice families despite longstanding opposition, and offers lessons for newer ESA states like Arizona, Texas, and Iowa that seek to accelerate growth. Mr. Kirtley addresses challenges ahead, from ensuring a strong supply of high-quality private schools to managing the complexities of universal ESA programs. He also discusses how to measure and maintain accountability in parent-driven school choice programs, strategies to reverse stagnating NAEP scores, and the opportunities presented by the new federal education tax credit program.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer Senior Fellow Charlie Chieppo interview award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jane Leavy. Ms. Leavy discusses her lifelong love of baseball, and her forthcoming book, Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It, which comes out in September. She reflects on the magic of the Cape Cod Baseball League, contrasting it with today's Major League Baseball, and explores the commissioner's role since the tenure of Bart Giamatti in the 1980s. Leavy examines how labor disputes, steroid scandals, and the rise of Big Data have reshaped the game, fueling declining popularity, unprecedented pitcher injuries, and frustration among fans and Hall of Famers alike. At the same time, she highlights ways in which analytics have boosted performance at cutting-edge training centers like Driveline in Washington State. She shares candid insights on MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's media ambitions, the sport's future, and her vision for restoring baseball's timeless beauty. In closing, Ms. Leavy reads a passage from her book, Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson interview Prof. Keith Hylton, William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor and Professor of Law at Boston University. Prof. Hylton shares insights from his academic career and the book Laws of Creation: Property Rights in the World of Ideas, which he co-authored. The discussion explores how Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Adam Smith helped shape the legal framework for property rights and the free market in the U.S., and how these ideas are central to understanding our modern economy. Prof. Hylton explains the constitutional foundations of American intellectual property (IP) law, Thomas Jefferson's role in establishing the U.S. Patent Office, and how historic inventors like Thomas Edison exemplify American experimentation, innovation, and economic dynamism.  He also covers trade secrets, copyright law, and the tension between protecting inventors' individual patent rights and today's calls for free access to copyrighted online content. Hylton addresses global challenges, including cyber theft and piracy, and reflects on key legal cases that define international IP enforcement. Prof. Hylton also shares three major takeaways he hopes high school and undergraduate students will understand about the importance of intellectual property rights in sustaining American rule of law, innovation, and economic growth. He concludes with a reading from his book, Laws of Creation: Property Rights in the World of Ideas.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Pepperdine Law's, Prof. Edward Larson. Prof. Larson marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes “Monkey Trial,” a landmark case in America's long-running debate over science, religion, and public education. Drawing on his acclaimed book Summer for the Gods, Prof. Larson provides historical context for the trial, which centered on high school teacher John Scopes, charged with violating Tennessee's Butler Act against teaching evolution. Larson explores the cultural tensions of the 1920s—religious fundamentalism, immigration, and rapid social change—that set the stage for the courtroom showdown between famed attorneys Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan. He describes the media frenzy, the dramatic legal arguments, and the trial's verdict, offering insights into how the case became a defining moment in American civic life. He highlights the ongoing role of public schools, the enduring clash between modern science and religious belief, and the trial's lasting legacy. Prof. Larson closes the interview with a reading from Summer for the Gods.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale of Great Hearts Academies interview longtime public education champion and Learning Curve co-host Alisha Searcy. Alisha joins the show as a guest to share her story and insights into K-12 public education reform. Herself a product of public-school choice, she discusses how those early experiences shaped her belief in accessible, high‑quality schooling for all students. Elected to the Georgia House at age 23, Alisha spent six terms crafting key education reform laws and policies, including the intradistrict transfer law and the charter school authorizer amendment, that sought to put students at the center of school reform efforts. She then transitioned into school leadership, serving as superintendent of a network of charter public schools in metro Atlanta, where she led dramatic academic improvement and operational turnaround. Drawing on both her legislative and schoolhouse experience, Alisha now leads an ambitious effort like Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS) and CSPS Action, to support center-left state policymakers in navigating education challenges and designing student‑first public schools. In closing, she explains why the current moment presents unique opportunities to strengthen K-12 public education, especially in Southern states that are facing both pressing achievement needs and prospective school innovations.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview University of Maryland Emeritus Professor of English Vincent Carretta. Prof. Carretta explores the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of the first African-American to publish a book of poetry in English, Phillis Wheatley Peters. He offers insight into Phillis' early life in West Africa, her transatlantic voyage aboard the slave ship Phillis, and her arrival in Boston in 1761. He discusses her enslavement by the Wheatley family, her exposure to Christianity during the Great Awakening, and her exceptional education in classical literature. Additionally, Prof. Carretta highlights how her poetry drew upon timeless poets like Homer, Virgil, Milton, and Pope, and how her first published works reflected themes of piety, imagination, and liberty. He concludes the interview with a reading of a passage from his book, Phillis Wheatley Peters: Biography of a Genius in Bondage.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Dr. Cara Candal of ExcelinEd interview former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education and co-founder of the Defense of Freedom Institute (DFI), Jim Blew. Mr. Blew reflects on his tenure in federal education leadership and his motivation for establishing DFI. He discusses the decades of rising federal K-12 spending through initiatives like RTTT, ESSA, and ESSER funds, instead calling for devolving federal authority out of the U.S. Department of Education, and more private school choice and charter public school innovation. Mr. Blew shares the origins and goals of the new national education tax credit law, which emphasizes private school choice options and state-level flexibility. He unpacks the program's key provisions, including tax credits for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) that fund school choice for students. However, he raises concerns that the law's state “opt-in” requirement may sideline students in blue states led by school choice opponents. Finally, Mr. Blew addresses some constitutional and strategic concerns, arguing that federal education tax credits, if carefully structured, can enhance educational opportunity.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Helen Baxendale of Great Hearts Academies interview award-winning English historian and biographer, Dr. Juliet Barker. She offers a rich portrait of the Brontë family, whose timeless contributions have widely impacted English literature and fiction writing. Dr. Barker explores the formative influences of their father, Patrick Brontë, an Irish Anglican minister with deep intellectual, religious, and educational convictions that shaped his family's writing, and their tight-knit, creative environment in Haworth that inspired his gifted literary daughters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. She delves into Charlotte's drive for self-improvement, the enduring power of her novel Jane Eyre, and its themes of independence, love, and social criticism. Dr. Barker discusses Emily's affection for nature, reclusive personality, and the intense emotional landscape of her novel, Wuthering Heights. She also explores Anne's gentle, strong-willed temperament, her novels Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and their groundbreaking critiques of women's prescribed roles and the hypocrisies of 19th-century society. Dr. Barker shares insights about the tragic deaths of all six Brontë siblings, including Branwell, the family's son. She concludes the interview by discussing the sisters' lasting legacy as great literary women who revolutionized Victorian fiction and whose works continue to resonate with modern readers across the globe. In closing, she reads a passage from her definitive biography The Brontës.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Walter Blanks interview Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, who has served as superintendent-director of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District since 1994. A leader in vocational-technical education, Dr. Fitzpatrick reflects on his own educational journey and offers insights into leadership that puts students first. He discusses how Massachusetts' voc-tech schools used the 1993 Education Reform Act's accountability tools like MCAS, standards, and school choice, to drive achievement, particularly for students with diverse learning needs. He shares how Valley Tech and other voc-techs built a nationally recognized culture that seamlessly integrates academics and occupational training, resulting in low dropout rates and success in national skills competitions. Dr. Fitzpatrick also delves into the critical partnerships among industry, organized labor, and higher education that have fueled reform. He addresses current policy debates over voc-tech admissions and recruitment practices, and how the voc-tech community has responded. Finally, he offers three key policy recommendations to strengthen vocational-technical education across the country, drawing on decades of hands-on leadership and reform experience.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Massachusetts civics teacher Kelley Brown interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jack Rakove, Coe Professor Emeritus at Stanford University. Prof. Rakove explores the origins of the American Revolution and U.S. Constitution through the lives of the nation's Founding Era figures. Reflecting on young John Adams' vivid depiction of his schoolhouse in colonial Massachusetts, Rakove offers context for the political and social landscape of the 18th-century America. He discusses the central constitutional dispute between the British Parliament and the American colonies over political authority, which escalated after the Stamp Act crisis and the Boston Tea Party. Prof. Rakove traces the emergence of the Continental Congress as a revolutionary governing body and its role in declaring independence. He also shares the moral contradictions of liberty in a society dependent on slavery and explains how internal debates over slavery shaped politics within the Continental Congress. Additionally, Prof. Rakove highlights the contributions of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in building a durable federal constitutional system and explains Madison's critical role in drafting the Bill of Rights. He closes with a reading from Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America.

In this special episode of The Learning Curve, guest co-host Ian Rowe interviews Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and founder of the Ascend Charter Network. Their discussion centers on Wilson's new book, The Lost Decade, which concerns education's shift away from liberal arts and toward social justice ideology and anti-intellectualism. They examine the impact of this shift on student achievement, highlight successful education models such as classical schools and virtues-based curricula, and stress the importance of maintaining high academic standards. Wilson also touches on the classical learning test as a promising alternative to current, politicized assessments. Wilson and Rowe conclude with a call to focus on truth, knowledge, and honor in education to empower all students.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview John Burt, the Paul Prosswimmer Professor of American Literature at Brandeis University. Prof. Burt offers rich insight into the life and work of one of the 20th century's greatest American writers, Robert Penn Warren. Raised in rural southwestern Kentucky, Warren was deeply shaped by the legacy of the Civil War, which he explored in his influential 1961 work, The Legacy of the Civil War, and throughout his poetry and fiction. Prof. Burt shares that as a young man at Vanderbilt, Warren was influenced by the “Fugitives” literary group and contributed to I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition, a decision he later deeply regretted. His Pulitzer-winning novel All the King's Men follows the rise and fall of populist governor Willie Stark, modeled in part on Huey Long and Julius Caesar, through the eyes of journalist Jack Burden, whose personal and philosophical journey mirrors Stark's. Prof. Burt shares that the novel wrestles with the limits of knowledge and the weight of moral responsibility, culminating in a powerful meditation on time, history, and the human condition.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-host Alisha Searcy and guest co-host Walter Blanks interview Shaka Mitchell, senior fellow at the American Federation for Children. Mr. Mitchell shares about his compelling personal and professional journey in education reform. Shaka discusses how his formative experiences shaped his passion for expanding charter public schools, school choice, and empowering families. He reflects on his early work with the Center for Education Reform under Jeanne Allen, and how national leaders like Kevin Chavous influenced his thinking. Drawing on his leadership at charter school networks like Rocketship Education and LEAD Public Schools, Mitchell highlights what makes charter schools in the South successful, especially in Tennessee. Shaka also unpacks the shifting political landscape surrounding charter schools and the urgency of rebuilding bipartisan support. Mitchell discusses his time at the Institute for Justice and the legal strategies behind landmark U.S. Supreme Court victories for school choice. He provides insights into the growing momentum behind education savings accounts, tax credits, and voucher programs. Finally, he breaks down the proposed Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), offering a candid assessment of its strengths, weaknesses, and chances of passage in Congress.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Amanda McMullen, President & CEO of the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM). Ms. McMullen explores NBWM's remarkable mission, collections, and economic impact on the Southcoast of Massachusetts. She discusses NBWM's historical roots in the 19th-century Yankee whaling industry that made New Bedford the wealthiest city in the world per capita. She highlights the museum's iconic exhibits, including five full whale skeletons and the Lagoda, the world's largest model whaling ship. Ms. McMullen touches on the whaling industry's close relationship with Quaker abolitionists, the museum's unparalleled collections of scrimshaw and whale ship logbooks, as well as Herman Melville and Moby-Dick's literary legacy in New Bedford and beyond. In closing, she shares how NBWM reaches 140,000 people annually and contributes to the regional economy, while offering a preview of summer plans and exciting future projects under her leadership.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Benjamin Moynihan, Executive Director, and, William Crombie, Director of Professional Development, for the Algebra Project, Inc. Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Crombie reflect on the life and legacy of Civil Rights era icon, and math educator, Bob Moses. They trace Moses's journey from a Harlem upbringing and elite liberal arts education to his transformative grassroots activism in 1960s Mississippi, organizing Black voter registration and co-directing the Freedom Summer Project 1964. They discuss his collaboration with Mississippi sharecropper and Civil Rights era legend Fannie Lou Hamer, and his principled departure from the U.S. to raise a family and teach math in Tanzania, where his educational vision deepened. Bob Moses later founded the Algebra Project to confront math illiteracy as a modern civil rights issue, empowering students of color through community-based Algebra instruction. Moynihan and Crombie explore the Algebra Project's enduring mission; its pioneering role advocating for Algebra I as the gateway course to all higher-level math; and the importance of local buy-in for K-12 education reform. They reflect on Bob Moses's profound, often quiet leadership; Pulitzer-winning Civil Rights Movement historian Taylor Branch's high praise of his courageous voter registration work in Jim Crow Mississippi; and how the Algebra Project's grassroots model of organizing promotes access to high-level math instruction for all American schoolchildren.

In this special episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Charlie Chieppo interview New York Times bestselling American sportswriter, biographer, and author Jane Leavy.  Ms. Leavy offers a vivid exploration of Babe Ruth's life and towering legacy. Leavy sheds new light on Ruth's difficult Baltimore childhood, his formative years at St. Mary's Industrial School, and his remarkable early success as a star pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. She discusses Ruth's pivotal sale to the Yankees, his celebrity rise alongside New York City's 1920s boom, his legendary 1927 season with “Murderers' Row,” and his bittersweet final years. Ms. Leavy reflects on Babe Ruth legacy and why he remains the Ruthian symbol of American sports greatness. In closing, Ms. Leavy reads a passage from her book, The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Justice Barry Anderson speak with Wilfrid Prest, Emeritus Professor and Visiting Research Fellow in History and Law at the University of Adelaide in Australia, and biographer of Sir William Blackstone, among the most influential figures in the history of English common law. Prof. Prest discusses Blackstone's formative years in mid-18th-century London and at Pembroke College, Oxford, where a classical education, Enlightenment thought, and legal scholarship shaped his intellectual path. He describes Blackstone's early legal and academic career, including his role as the first Vinerian Professor of English Law and author of An Analysis of the Laws of England. Prest explores how Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England brought clarity and coherence to England's centuries old legal tradition, drawing from foundational documents like Magna Carta and formative figures such as Bracton, Fortescue, and Coke. He examines the Commentaries' lasting impact on American Founding Fathers, including both admirers like Alexander Hamilton and Chief Justice John Marshall and critics like Thomas Jefferson. Prest concludes with reflections on Blackstone's enduring legacy in promoting the rule of law and legal education worldwide. In closing, Prof. Prest reads a passage from his book, William Blackstone: Law and Letters in the Eighteenth Century. 

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng, speak with Michael Duffy, President of GO Tutor Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to closing achievement gaps through high-dosage tutoring in low-income communities. Mr. Duffy shares insights from his distinguished career in public service and education reform, beginning in Massachusetts state government under Governor Bill Weld and later in Boston's charter school movement. He reflects on the influence of the book Reinventing Government and the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act, which helped make the Bay State a national leader in K–12 outcomes. Mr. Duffy also discusses Boston's charter sector, its formative leaders, and how its successful model migrated to New York City, where he worked under Chancellor Joel Klein and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to scale innovation in public education. Now leading GO Tutor Corps, Duffy describes the organization's intensive, relationship-based tutoring model as a powerful tool for addressing pandemic-related learning loss. He offers lessons for policymakers and educators across the country seeking to improve equity and academic outcomes for students most in need.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Kelley Brown, a Massachusetts U.S. history and civics teacher, interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson, author of The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777. Mr. Atkinson explores the rise and fall of British imperial power in North America, the radical leadership of the American patriot Samuel Adams, and the early military struggles of General George Washington and the Continental Army. He discusses the brutal battlefield realities faced by Continental soldiers, the pivotal roles of Lafayette and the French alliance, and the ideological stakes of America's War for Independence. As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the April 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord, Atkinson reflects on the Revolution's lasting lessons about civic sacrifice, liberty, and the meaning of American democratic ideals. In closing he reads a passage from his new book, The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer's Mary Connaughton interview Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law professor emerita and former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Ambassador Glendon reflects on her formative education, mentors, and how law and faith have shaped her worldview. She discusses her admiration for Western Civilization's intellectual and spiritual heritage—especially Cicero, Edmund Burke, and the harmony of Catholicism with reason. Ambassador Glendon offers insights from her memoir In the Courts of Three Popes, recounting her service under Popes St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. She explores Vatican diplomacy, the Church's governance, the Vatican Bank, and key challenges facing the Church today, including the upcoming papal conclave. In closing, she reads a passage from her book, In the Courts of Three Popes.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA), which helped propel the state's schools to national and international success. Steven highlights the contributions of Linda Brown and Building Excellent Schools in fostering high-performing charter leaders and networks and addresses the political and curricular challenges charters face today. Wilson also examines the academic stagnation that continued with the 2024 NAEP results, linking it to the adoption of Common Core and broader shifts in education policy. He explores the intersection of K-12 curricula with race- and class-based politics and discusses themes from his newly published book, The Lost Decade. He continues by discussing policy recommendations, calling for a renewed focus on rigorous academics to close achievement gaps and restore excellence and equality of opportunity in American education. In closing, Wilson reads a passage from The Lost Decade.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Sheila Harrity, former Worcester Tech principal and nationally recognized vocational-technical education leader. Dr. Harrity shares insights from her distinguished career in voc-tech schooling. She discusses how Massachusetts voc-tech schools leveraged provisions of the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act to achieve academic and occupational excellence, built strong partnerships with industry and higher ed, and dramatically reduced dropout rates. Dr. Harrity reflects on Worcester Tech's national acclaim, VIP visits from President Barack Obama and the late former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, and school reform policy challenges, while offering three key strategies to strengthen urban voc-techs nationwide.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Kelley Brown, a Massachusetts U.S. history and civics teacher, interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Prof. Gordon Wood. Prof. Wood explores the pivotal events and ideas that sparked the American Revolution. He discusses the political tensions of 1775, King George III's imperial policies, and the colonists' transformation from subjects to citizens. Wood highlights Benjamin Franklin's rise, James Otis's speech against the writs of assistance, and George Washington's crucial military leadership. He also reflects on overlooked Revolutionary era patriots like Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Mason, the role of Minutemen, and how Lexington and Concord galvanized the colonies towards American Independence.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale interview noted literary biographer, Dr. Jeffrey Meyers. Dr. Meyers discusses The Great Gatsby on its 100th anniversary. He explores F. Scott Fitzgerald's tragic life, his marriage to Zelda, and how their tumultuous relationship shaped his iconic novel. Dr. Meyers delves into the timeless themes of Gatsby's yearning, the elusive American Dream, and 1920s decadence while analyzing major characters and symbols like Daisy, the green light, and Gatsby's reinvention of himself. He also reflects on Fitzgerald's later struggles and enduring literary legacy. In closing, Dr. Meyers reads a passage from his biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. James Lynn Woodworth, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Dr. Woodworth discusses the role of data in shaping K-12 education policy. He explores the impact of assessments like NAEP, PISA, and TIMSS on global education trends, the challenges of declining U.S. student performance, and the uncertain effectiveness of federal K-12 spending. Dr. Woodworth also shares insights from his work at the Center for Research on Educational Outcomes (CREDO) on charter school results and the importance of data-driven policymaking in urban school districts. Finally, he highlights key education research priorities at Hoover and strategies for addressing achievement gaps nationwide.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Helen Baxendale celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth with Dr. Paula Byrne, Lady Bate, a distinguished biographer and literary critic. Dr. Byrne explores the key influences that shaped Austen's life, the major themes of her novels, and the enduring relevance of heroines like Elizabeth Bennet and Elinor Dashwood. She also shares insights from her books The Real Jane Austen and The Genius of Jane Austen, shedding light on Austen's love of theater and the lasting appeal of her works in Hollywood. She offers a deeper appreciation of Austen's literary brilliance and her impact on literature and culture as we celebrate Women's History Month. In closing, Dr. Byrne reads a passage from her book, The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Robert Enlow, president and CEO of EdChoice. Mr. Enlow discusses his decades of leadership in school choice advocacy, from his early work with the Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation to spearheading policy reforms nationwide. He examines the persistent stagnation in U.S. K-12 education despite massive funding and highlights the rapid expansion of charter schools and education savings accounts (ESAs). Enlow also reflects on the legal victories school choice achieved in the U.S. Supreme Court's Espinoza and Carson rulings, the rise of microschools and homeschooling post-COVID, and the evolving coalitions shaping school choice. Additionally, he previews upcoming legal and political battles as opponents push back against further reforms.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Trish Schreiber, senior fellow in education at the Frontier Institute in Montana. Schreiber shares her journey from Silicon Valley to Montana and her passion for expanding educational opportunities. She discusses the impact of the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the state's growing education tax credit program, and the recent passage of Montana's charter school law. Ms. Schreiber also examines challenges posed by entrenched special interests in K-12 education and highlights key resources that inform her work in advancing school choice and education reform.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Robin Lane Fox, distinguished classicist and Emeritus Fellow at Oxford. Prof. Lane Fox offers profound insights into Homer's Iliad and its enduring significance. He explores the epic's historical and literary context, from its roots in oral tradition to its lasting influence on Western culture. Additionally, he discusses key figures like Achilles, Hector, and Helen, the interplay between mortals and gods, and pivotal moments such as Patroclus's death and Hector's farewell. Lane Fox also examines the Iliad's connection to the Odyssey and its timeless themes of heroism, fate, and war, making a compelling case for its relevance today. In closing, he reads a passage from the end of the Iliad.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Walter Blanks interview Samuel Lee Fudge, the acclaimed actor, writer, and director behind Mosiah, the first narrative film about Marcus Garvey. Fudge discusses his background, education, and creative journey in bringing Garvey's legacy to the screen. He explores Garvey's leadership, the Black Star Line, and his ideological clashes with figures like W.E.B. Du Bois. Mr. Fudge delves into the film's research, production choices, and the challenges of portraying early 20th-century racial struggles. He also reflects on Garvey's enduring influence on Black nationalism and civil rights, including his posthumous 2025 pardon by President Joe Biden.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Margaret Washington, the esteemed historian and author of Sojourner Truth's America. Prof. Washington delves into Truth's remarkable life, from her early years in slavery in New York to her transformation into a powerful abolitionist, women's rights advocate, and religiously driven reformer. She explores Northern slavery, the Second Great Awakening, her famous “Ain't I a Woman?” speech, and her Civil War-era activism. Prof. Washington also reflects on Truth's enduring legacy as a symbol of justice, equality, and resilience in American history. In closing, Prof. Washington reads a passage from her book, Sojourner Truth's America.

In this special St. Valentine's Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview renowned Shakespeare scholar Professor Sir Jonathan Bate to discuss the timeless tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Exploring its enduring greatness, Sir Jonathan delves into Shakespeare's classical influences, particularly Ovid's Metamorphoses, and how Elizabethan literature shaped the portrayal of lovers. He examines the interplay of passion, violence, and fate in Verona's warring streets and explains Romeo and Juliet's eternal love—from Romeo's early infatuation with Rosaline to his deep romantic connection with Juliet. Sir Jonathan highlights the poetic brilliance and intimacy of the famous window scene, Mercutio's pivotal role in shifting the play's tone, and the tragic consequences of miscommunication and hasty action. He also reflects on Shakespeare's overarching themes of love and death, and the poetic depth of his love sonnets. Additionally, he shares insights into what Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare's works teach us about the enduring human desire for love. In closing, Sir Jonathan reads a passage from his book Mad about Shakespeare: From Classroom to Theatre to Emergency Room.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA), which helped propel the state's schools to national and international success. Steven highlights the contributions of Linda Brown and Building Excellent Schools in fostering high-performing charter leaders and networks and addresses the political and curricular challenges charters face today. Wilson also examines the academic stagnation that continued with the 2024 NAEP results, linking it to the adoption of Common Core and broader shifts in education policy. He explores the intersection of K-12 curricula with race- and class-based politics and discusses themes from his upcoming book, The Lost Decade. He continues by discussing policy recommendations, calling for a renewed focus on rigorous academics to close achievement gaps and restore excellence and equality of opportunity in American education. In closing, Wilson reads a passage from his new book The Lost Decade.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview historian Marcus Rediker, Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History at the University of Pittsburgh and author of The Amistad Rebellion. Prof. Rediker explores the 1839 slave revolt aboard the schooner La Amistad. He recounts the leadership of Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinqué) and the wider history and human toll of the transatlantic slave trade. Prof. Rediker details the Amistad Africans' journey from Sierra Leone to Havana's barracoons, their rebellion at sea, and their capture off Long Island. He examines the legal battle, from their defense by abolitionists to American statesman John Quincy Adams' stirring legal argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, which helped secure their freedom. Prof. Rediker highlights the Amistad SCOTUS case's impact on the abolitionist movement and the fate of Cinqué and his comrades upon returning to West Africa. He discusses how the Amistad revolt should be remembered and taught, ensuring that this extraordinary story of resistance and justice remains a vital part of our historical consciousness. In closing, Prof. Rediker reads a passage from his book The Amistad Rebellion.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Nicole Stelle Garnett, Associate Dean and John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School, and a national expert in education law and school choice. Dean Garnett discusses the vital role Catholic education plays in fostering faith, community, and the pursuit of “the true, the good, and the beautiful.” She explores the challenges posed by the decline of Catholic schools in urban areas, as outlined in her book Lost Classroom, Lost Community: Catholic Schools' Importance in Urban America, and highlights policy solutions such as expanding educational choice options to support Catholic school families. She delves into recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue and Carson v. Makin, which undermined the legal barriers to school choice, like Blaine Amendments, while strengthening religious liberty in K-12 schooling. Dean Garnett also examines the growth of private school choice programs, education savings accounts, and education tax credits across the U.S., and offers insights into upcoming legal challenges as the opponents of school choice and religious education strategize to push back.

In this special Holocaust Remembrance Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and the Heritage Foundation's Jason Bedrick interview Alexandra Popoff, a former Moscow journalist and acclaimed biographer. Ms. Popoff delves into the life and legacy of Vasily Grossman, a 20th-century Jewish Soviet writer and journalist. She explores Grossman's transition from chemical engineering to writing, influenced by his Jewish heritage and the historical context of the time. Popoff discusses Grossman's role as a war correspondent for the Red Army newspaper, covering key WWII battles and providing early reports on Nazi death camps, including Treblinka. She highlights his 1944 piece, "The Hell of Treblinka," which was used as evidence in the Nuremberg Trials. Popoff also examines Grossman's major literary works, including Stalingrad and Life and Fate, which were censored and "arrested" by the Soviet government for their anti-totalitarian content. She reflects on Grossman's historic contributions to Holocaust literature and the lessons his writings offer on the political nature of Nazism and Soviet communism. In closing, she reads a passage from her book, Vasily Grossman and the Soviet Century.

In this special MLK Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Prof. Lerone Martin, Martin Luther King, Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford University and Director of the MLK Research and Education Institute. Dr. Martin offers deep insights into the life and legacy of Dr. King. He explores MLK's role as a spiritual and political leader, advocating for nonviolent protest and “soul force.” Prof. Martin discusses the dynamic between Dr. King, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and figures like Bob Moses and Fannie Lou Hamer. He highlights how MLK's understanding of history, literature, poetry, and hymns influenced his iconic speeches, including the famous “I Have a Dream” address. Dr. Martin then delves into MLK's struggles in Birmingham, the challenges he faced from FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, and his "Mountaintop" speech before his assassination. Prof. Martin also examines the Civil Rights Movement's impact on both Southern and Northern cities and its place in contemporary education, urging policymakers, schools, and parents to learn from MLK's teachings.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd and former state literacy director for Mississippi. Dr. Burk shares insights from her remarkable career in K-12 education reform. She discusses her journey from classroom teacher to leading transformative literacy initiatives in Mississippi that resulted in groundbreaking improvements in early literacy and NAEP reading scores. She examines the strengths and weaknesses of teaching approaches like “whole language” and phonics and emphasizes the importance of early childhood education, leadership, and high-quality reading materials in fostering young readers. Reflecting on Mississippi's successes and the broader national learning loss exacerbated by COVID-19, Dr. Burk offers actionable advice for state policymakers to help students recover and thrive with the science of reading.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Leo Damrosch, the Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature Emeritus at Harvard University and author of Tocqueville's Discovery of America. Prof. Damrosch delves into Alexis de Tocqueville's historic nine-month journey through the United States in 1831–1832, which inspired his masterpiece, Democracy in America. He explores Tocqueville's observations on American democracy, civic individualism, materialism, and the rule of law, contrasting them with European political institutions. Prof. Damrosch highlights Tocqueville's impressions of influential political figures like Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, his prescient views on slavery's moral and political impact, and his critiques of American materialism and inequality. He also sheds light on Tocqueville's insights into education's role in fostering self-government and democracy, as well as his enduring legacy as a thinker whose analysis of democracy resonates across political divides. Throughout the interview Damrosch offers his profound understanding of Tocqueville's relevance to contemporary debates on equality, governance, and democratic ideals. In closing, he reads a passage from Tocqueville's writings.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview distinguished British television journalist, author, and Classic FM presenter, John Suchet, OBE. Mr. Suchet explores the life and legacy of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, one of Russia's greatest composers. He shares insights into Tchaikovsky's upbringing, his late start in composing, and the emotional challenges that shaped his career and music. Suchet discusses Tchaikovsky's struggles with self-doubt, harsh critics, and a turbulent personal life, which influenced his famous works. He highlights Tchaikovsky's enduring masterpieces, including The 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty, examining his genius for melody, orchestral “color,” and exploring international inspirations. Suchet also reflects on the immense contemporary cultural and financial success of The Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky's other ballets, which captivate audiences worldwide. Closing the discussion, Suchet celebrates Tchaikovsky's unparalleled ability to create music that remains timeless, magical, and universally beloved, establishing his place as a cornerstone of the classical music repertoire. In doing so, he reads a passage from his book, Tchaikovsky: The Man Revealed.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dan Hamlin, an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Prof. Hamlin offers his insights on the state of K-12 education policy and reform. He shares how his academic experiences and research shaped his philosophy on education and informed his work with Harvard PEPG's “Emerging School Models” conference. Hamlin also analyzes the pandemic's impact on education, including the rise of school choice options like ESAs, microschools, and pods. He highlights findings from his Pioneer white paper, From Crisis to Opportunity: Post-Pandemic Academic Growth in Massachusetts, and offers policy recommendations for addressing learning loss, including effective use of ESSER funds. Prof. Hamlin also delves into his research on high-dosage tutoring models, emphasizing their potential to improve academic outcomes and close opportunity gaps, and advocates for data-driven approaches to K-12 education reform.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dava Sobel, acclaimed author of The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science. Sobel delves into the life of Marie Curie, the “scientific Joan of Arc,” exploring her extraordinary journey from clandestine education in Tsarist-controlled Poland to becoming the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes in different scientific disciplines. She highlights Madame Curie's groundbreaking discoveries of radium and polonium, with her husband Pierre Curie, and her pioneering work in radioactivity. Sobel also examines Marie Curie's role as a mentor to women scientists, her wartime contributions with mobile X-ray units, and her enduring legacy as a trailblazer for women in STEM. Through Madame Curie's story, Ms. Sobel reflects on the power of scientific curiosity and its profound societal impact. In closing, Sobel reads a passage from her book, The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Eric Rassbach, Vice President and Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Mr. Rassbach discusses the Loffman v. California Department of Education case, where Becket successfully secured a unanimous Ninth Circuit decision ensuring equal access to special education funding for religious school students. He explores how California's restrictive interpretation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) denied federal funds to students at private religious schools, in contrast to secular ones. He delves into the broader context of religious liberty in K-12 education, highlighting landmark SCOTUS rulings, including Trinity Lutheran, Espinoza, and Carson's impact on the evolving legal battles reshaping states' Blaine Amendments and school choice policies. Rassbach also examines how religious schooling and school choice initiatives can enhance student achievement. He foresees increased litigation and legislative action bolstering educational freedom nationwide.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Carl Rollyson, CUNY professor, and acclaimed biographer of William Faulkner. Prof. Rollyson offers an in-depth exploration of Faulkner's life, work, and enduring legacy. He discusses Faulkner's formative years in early 20th-century Mississippi a region still grappling with its post-Civil War identity, and his early literary influences, including mentorship by Phil Stone and encounters with literary greats like Sherwood Anderson. Rollyson delves into Faulkner's tumultuous personal life, his complex marriage to his wife Estelle, and his writing routine at his Oxford, Mississippi, home, Rowan Oak. Rollyson examines Faulkner's creation of Yoknapatawpha County, the setting for masterpieces such as The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom!, as well as his Hollywood years and their impact on his craft. He also explores Faulkner's views on race and civil rights, his Nobel Prize-winning novels, and his influence on Southern literature and writers like Flannery O'Connor and Ralph Ellison. In closing, Prof. Rollyson reads a passage from his two-volume biography, The Life of William Faulkner.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview New Hampshire Governor Christopher Sununu. Gov. Sununu discusses his upbringing in a well-known political family and how the influence of his father, a former governor and White House chief of staff, and his brother, a former U.S. senator, has shaped his public service. He reflects on attending a competitive STEM-centric magnet high school and MIT, where studying engineering shaped his approach to policy, particularly K-12 reform. Gov. Sununu also highlights how his wife, a special education teacher, has deepened his knowledge of school choice, early literacy, and expanding opportunities for students with disabilities. He describes his efforts to support school choice within New Hampshire's strong K-12 public education system; and the importance of empowering communities, parents, and state leaders to drive education reforms and create more equitable school options for students.Stories of the Week: Alisha discussed an article from Commonwealth Beacon on how Massachusetts voted to end the MCAS graduation requirement, Albert shared a story from Forbes on understanding the results from three school choice referenda.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Helen Baxendale, the chief of staff and vice president of strategy at Great Hearts Academies. Dr. Baxendale discusses how her global educational experiences inform her perspective on K-12 policy and Great Hearts' mission to integrate the humanities, math, and science for intellectual and character development. She explains how Great Hearts uses classical texts by Plato, Aristotle, and African-American thinkers like W.E.B. Du Bois and MLK to teach justice and democracy amid today's social divisions. Dr. Baxendale also shares the school's approach to teacher preparation, navigating regulations, and competing in choice-rich, historically lower-performing NAEP states. She concludes with insights into the importance of the classical liberal arts for preparing students for both higher education and the workforce, and her vision for improving U.S. K-12 outcomes.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview Jeffrey Meyers, acclaimed literary biographer, about his comprehensive exploration of Edgar Allan Poe's life and work. Meyers delves into Poe's troubled early years, his struggles with abandonment and poverty, and how these shaped his dark, Gothic style. The discussion covers the themes and influences behind Poe's first poetry collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, as well as his caustic literary criticism, which earned him the moniker “the man with the tomahawk.” Meyers explains Poe's development of detective fiction through the character C. Auguste Dupin in The Murders in the Rue Morgue, as well as the lasting significance of The Tell-Tale Heart in Gothic horror. He also explores Poe's most famous poem, The Raven, its crafting, and mythic resonance, along with The Cask of Amontillado, a revenge-driven tale that mirrors Poe's personal struggles. Meyers discusses Poe's essay The Philosophy of Composition and his belief in the “death of a beautiful woman” as a poetic ideal, analyzing Poe's relationships and what young writers can learn from his methods. Meyers also reflects on what teachers and students can appreciate about Poe's haunting genius and impact on literature. In closing, Meyers reads a passage from his book, Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview Catherine Clinton, Denman Professor of American History at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and author of Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom. Prof. Clinton discusses her definitive biography of Harriet Tubman, the renowned abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor. She reflects on Tubman's early life as Araminta Ross, born into slavery in antebellum Maryland, and the formative experiences that shaped her resistance to oppression. Clinton covers a traumatic head injury Tubman suffered, her deep religious faith, and the spiritual visions that guided her. She also explores Tubman's marriage to John Tubman, her escape to freedom in 1849, and her leadership in rescuing enslaved people. Prof. Clinton also delves into the dangers Tubman faced under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, her work with prominent abolitionists like John Brown, Frederick Douglass, and William Seward, and her service as a Union spy and military leader during the Civil War. Additionally, Clinton reflects on Tubman's later life in upstate New York, her advocacy for women's suffrage, and her enduring legacy in American history. In closing, Prof. Clinton reads a passage form her biography, Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Andrea Silbert interview Israeli historian, journalist, and author of A State at Any Cost: The Life of David Ben-Gurion, Tom Segev. Dr. Segev delves into the life and legacy of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's founding father. He shares insights into Ben-Gurion's early years in Poland, his involvement in Zionist politics, and immigration to Palestine in 1906, which set the stage for his leadership during pivotal moments in history. Segev covers Ben-Gurion's rise to prominence, his role in forming the Zionist Labor Federation, and the strategies he employed during the 1936-39 Arab revolt. Additionally, Segev examines Ben-Gurion's historic leadership in declaring Israel's independence in 1948, the unification of Jewish militias into the Israeli Defense Forces, and the implications of the Arab-Israeli War. He also highlights Ben-Gurion's efforts to establish state institutions, absorb Jewish immigrants, and his vision for the nation, while acknowledging the complicated aspects of his political leadership. Dr. Segev positions Ben-Gurion among the most significant leaders of the twentieth century, with a legacy that continues to influence Israeli society and its international relations today.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Mike Goldstein interview Katie Everett, the Executive Director of the Lynch Foundation. Ms. Everett shares her journey into K-12 education reform and discusses the influential vision of Carolyn and Peter Lynch, and their foundation's role in shaping education policy in Massachusetts and beyond. She highlights the Lynch family's contributions to the Commonwealth's educational, cultural, and civic landscape. Everett delves into the operational challenges facing Catholic schools, such as labor costs and enrollment issues, while also emphasizing the work of the School Choice and School Financial Sustainability Committee, which developed a finance model to assist tuition-based schools. She elaborates on how the model has been received and its potential to expand access to early childhood education, breaking cycles of illiteracy and poverty. Additionally, she explores how her school finance model could align with state policies, like ESAs, to bolster Catholic and private schools. Everett closes by calling for more robust involvement from governors, legislators, and parents in improving academic outcomes for American students.