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The Massachusetts Department of Education proposes that state vocational schools use admission lotteries. This proposal comes after years of criticism by some claiming the current admissions process at Vo-techs across the state, lock marginalized students out. Instead of ranking applicants on selective criteria like grades, recommendations from guidance counselors, and personal interviews, schools would be limited to using attendance and discipline as screening criteria for students to enter the lottery pool. Jamie Gass, the director for school reform at the Pioneer Institute checked in with Dan to discuss.Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset!
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 […]
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 […]
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.
The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Thursday, April 24, 20254:20 pm: Steven Wilson, Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research joins the show for a conversation about the federal deadline to end DEI at public schools.4:38 pm: Major Steve Salas of the Utah Highway Patrol joins Rod and Greg to discuss the results of distracted driving crackdown that took place across the state earlier this month.6:05 pm: Dr. Paul Winfree, President and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center joins the show to discuss his Wall Street Journal piece in which he says it is time to reform the Medicaid funding system and focus on those in need.6:38 pm: Adam Ellwanger, a Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown joins Rod and Greg for a conversation about his piece in American Greatness about Donald Trump's courage to fight.
NewsBusters' Tim Graham, Dane County Supervisor Jeff Weigand, Pioneer Institute's Steve Wilson, Americans for Energy Dominance's Marc Ang, State Senator Andre Jacque, Badger Insitute's Mike Nichols
On this episode of "The Federalist Radio Hour," Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research and co-founder of the National Summer School Initiative, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to discuss the downfall of the American education system and explain whether it can be redeemed. You can find Wilson's book The Lost Decade: Returning to the Fight for Better Schools in America here. If you care about combating the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.
On this episode of “The Federalist Radio Hour,” Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research and co-founder of the National Summer School Initiative, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to discuss the downfall of the American education system and explain whether it can be redeemed. You can find […]
National Center of Sexual Exploitation's Haley McNamara, Pioneer Institute's Steven Wilson, The Federalist's Matt Kittle, Attorney Mike Pugliese, Real Estate Developer Terrence Wall, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty's Luke Berg
Steven Wilson, Pioneer Institute scholar and researcher. A Simple Solution to Fix Failing Schools. Public education has been in the news these days, and everyone from the White House to the teacher unions is telling us what must be done to make sure our kids get the education they deserve. But just like securing the southern border was simpler than many claimed, the solution to under- performing schools is simpler than we've been told.
On this week's Education Gadfly Show podcast, Steven Wilson, senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute, joins Mike to discuss his new book The Lost Decade: Returning to the Fight for Better Schools in America, which argues that the push for so-called Antiracist education derailed reform and harmed marginalized students. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a study on how educators divide their attention during virtual tutoring—and how achievement, gender, race, and English learner status influence those interactions.Recommended content: Steven Wilson, “The Lost Decade: Returning to the Fight for Better Schools in America,” Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, 2024.Wilson, Steven F. “The Promise of Intellectual Joy,” June 4, 2019. Robert Pondiscio, “After a “lost decade,” let's restore high expectations for students,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (December 12, 2024).Michael J. Petrilli, “11 thoughts about the massive layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (March 11, 2025).Frederick M. Hess, “Defunding the teacher trainers,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (March 6, 2025).Qingyang Zhang, Rose E. Wang, Ana T. Ribeiro, Dorottya Demszky, and Susanna Loe, Educator Attention: How computational tools can systematically identify the distribution of a key resource for students, Annenberg Institute (March 2025)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Stephanie Distler at sdistler@fordhaminstitute.org.
Good morning Wakies! Today's Guests:6am- Barney Brenner makes his monthly visit to go in-depth on JFK7am- Steven Wilson, Pioneer Institute scholar and researcher
Steven Wilson, Pioneer Institute scholar and researcher. A Solution to America's Education Crisis
4:20 pm: Jim Antle, Politics Editor at the Washington Examiner, joins Rod and Greg for a conversation about his piece in which he writes Donald Trump is betting heavily on tariffs to kickstart the U.S. economy.4:38 pm: Ward Clark, a contributor to RedState, joins the program to discuss his piece about how America is past the problem of peak pollution, making fossil fuels more sustainable.6:05 pm: Kurt Schlichter, Senior Columnist at Townhall, joins the show for a conversation pondering the question of whether normal people pay any attention to extreme Democrat lunatics.6:38 pm: Steven Wilson, Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research about the big changes at the Department of Education and why he says charter schools are a better option to educate American students.
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 […]
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.
Guest Emmett McGroarty, Pioneer Institute, joins to discuss latest booklet on how to preserve our Constitutional Republic. Can we push back against federal bureaucracy and government regulation? Discussion of pushing for federalism, reforming federal grants to states, and the games the left likes to play to gain more power. Trump trolls the left on a next level by pushing for expanding America. Could we see Canada and Greenland really become part of the US? Mark Zuckerberg announces the removal of the "fact checkers" of Facebook. Do you trust him? Discussion of freedom of speech online and reforming social media.
People moving out of the state of Massachusetts has increased steadily over the last decade, however since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020, the state has seen a surge in out-migration. This latest wave is cause for concern as the majority of those leaving the state are wealthy tax filers and young adults. Economic Research Associate at the Pioneer Institute, Aidan Enright, joined Dan to discuss the data on this ongoing out-migration trend!Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio and listen to NightSide with Dan Rea Weeknights From 8PM-12AM!
Today:BPR hosts a debate on Ballot Question 1, which would grant the state auditor authority to audit the finances and workings of the legislature. Mary Connaughton, director of government transparency and COO at the Pioneer Institute, argues for YES on 1. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University and co-founder of MassPoliticsProfs.org, argues for NO on 1.
We had our Ballot Question 1 debate with Mary Connaughton from the Pioneer Institute arguing yes, and political science professor Jerold Duquette arguing no.Adam Ezra for Live Music Friday performed and talked about his work raising hundreds for homeless veterans.Gina McCarthy & Johanna Neumann discussed the stakes for this November's election as it relates to climate action.Comedian Jenny Slate talked about her new book called LIFEFORM.
Joe Selvaggi talks with Bill Smith, Director of the Life Sciences Initiative at Pioneer Institute, about the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on drug pricing negotiations and its potential effects on drug development, consumers, and taxpayers.
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute’s Director of Healthcare Initiatives, Dr. Bill Smith, about the challenges posed by new regulations and price controls for developing alternatives to addictive opioids.
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute's Director of Healthcare Initiatives, Dr. Bill Smith, about the challenges posed by new regulations and price controls for developing alternatives to addictive opioids.
This week on The Learning Curve co-hosts DFER’s Alisha Searcy and Charlie Chieppo interview Steven Wilson. Mr. Wilson delves into his extensive background, including his tenure at Pioneer Institute, his work with Governor Bill Weld, and his contributions to the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act. Steven shares insights into the high academic expectations and success of Boston’s charter schools, emphasizing the importance of recruiting and […]
This week on The Learning Curve co-hosts DFER's Alisha Searcy and Charlie Chieppo interview Steven Wilson. Mr. Wilson delves into his extensive background, including his tenure at Pioneer Institute, his work with Governor Bill Weld, and his contributions to the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act. Steven shares insights into the high academic expectations and success of Boston's charter schools, emphasizing the importance of recruiting and retaining quality teachers and principals. He covers the significant growth of charter schools in the U.S., highlighting cities with strong political support and effective charter authorizing practices. Additionally, Wilson addresses the recent political shifts affecting charter schools, the impact of political correctness on educational quality, and previews his upcoming book on K-12 education and charter schools. He concludes by reflecting on the future of charter school reform and the steps policymakers should take to sustain and enhance educational innovation.
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute’s Research Associate, Aidan Enright, about Pioneer’s annual report on the Massachusetts labor force and they discuss which trends could portend trouble for the state's future.
Only 13% of American eighth grade students are proficient in history and 22% are proficient in civics, according to 2022 NAEP results. The Pioneer Institute’s Jamie Gass joins the podcast to discuss the past, present, and potential future of rigorous history and civics instruction as detailed in his new book, Restoring the City on a […]
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute's Research Associate Aidan Enright about Pioneer's annual report on the Massachusetts labor force and discuss which trends could portend trouble for the state's future.
Jim Stergios, the executive director of the Pioneer Institute, Jim Stergios, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the teachers strike that took place in Newton, Mass., and if it could lead to future strike activity in the state. Stergios recently published an op-ed in the Boston Globe, "Teachers strikes hurt the students." https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/29/opinion/newton-teachers-strike-hurts-students/
Joe Selvaggi engages in a conversation with Pioneer Institute's Eileen McAnneny, Senior Fellow for Economic Opportunity, to analyze the status of the 2024 budget. They compare actual revenue and spending with pre-July 1 estimates, investigating potential reasons for any surpluses or shortfalls. They also dive into policy implications for legislators as they approach fiscal 2025. […]
Joe Selvaggi engages in a conversation with Pioneer Institute's Eileen McAnneny, Senior Fellow for Economic Opportunity, to analyze the status of the 2024 budget. They compare actual revenue and spending with pre-July 1 estimates, investigating potential reasons for any surpluses or shortfalls. They also dive into policy implications for legislators as they approach fiscal 2025.
This week's podcast is all about the QALY and the bill going to the Senate that would ban its use. The QALY is a metric used to determine how cost-effective a treatment is based on its ability to return a sick person to perfect health. Even if a treatment helps a chronically ill person to live longer, it will not be categorized as valuable as treatments are aimed at diseases that affect younger and healthier populations. To help us understand how the QALY negatively impacts those with chronic illness, we're joined by Michael Riotto, a member of Patients Rising, and Bill Smith, a Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute. Need help? The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands? Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at the Patients Rising Helpline. Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent? Drop us a line: podcast@patientsrising.org The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising, nor do the views and opinions stated on this show reflect the opinions of a guest's current or previous employers.
On Wednesday morning, the House passed H.R. 485, the Protecting Care for All Patients Act, which bans the use of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) in federal health programs. Bill Smith, a Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute, discusses what this means for patients and what the bill could mean for the future. Patients Rising has been pushing for a QALY ban for a long time and remains committed to working with all parties in the Senate to ensure all patients are valued equally in the eyes of the federal government. House Committee on Energy & Commerce Press Release: House Votes to Ban Metric Used to Deny Care for People with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses
How can we ensure young Americans understand civics? Our K-12 schools have seen a significant loss in the both the quality and quantity of history and civics requirements. Is there any way reverse this trend? In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Chris Sinacola, director of communications and media relations at Pioneer Institute and co-editor of Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America's Schools. Chris discusses his new book and outlines what is behind the steady decline of history and civics education, what testing standards and results indicate about the quality of civics education in schools, the importance of connecting students with the roots of the American nation, and what it will take to preserve American tradition and history. Chris also mentions that although some of the data looks bleak, there are upward trends and ways that parents have been mobilizing to protect and improve their children's education. ResourcesRestoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America's Schools | Chris Sinacola, Jamie Gass“I'm Afraid of the Kids We're Leaving Our Country.” A Conversation with Civics Educator Jack Miller | Naomi Schaefer RileyShow Notes0:46 | What inspired the title, Restoring the City on a Hill? 3:08 | Where are we getting civics education right?6:26 | How much do our students really know, and what motivated the need to study this issue? 10:35 | When did the decline in teaching U.S. history really start?14:57 | How can primary documents become more of the focal point in class?17:04 | How has reception of the book been, and what is the action plan? 20:17 | What role do states play in determining civics curriculum and what benchmarks students should meet?
Rod Arquette Show Daily Rundown – Tuesday, December 19, 20234:20 pm: Ira Mehlman, Media Director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, joins the show for a conversation about how the state of Texas is taking on Joe Biden by passing a law that allows cops to arrest illegal immigrants and ship them back to Mexico.4:38 pm: Chris Sinacola, Communications Director at the Pioneer Institute, joins Rod to discuss a push to reintroduce the teaching of history and civics in American classrooms.5:05 pm: Rob Axson, Chairman of the Utah Republican Party, joins Rod to respond to a press release sent out by the Utah Democratic Party today that said the Utah GOP is in a state of disarray, dysfunction and disorganization.6:05 pm: Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith, President of the Utah Sheriffs Association, joins Rod for a conversation about a New York Times piece that says police body cameras have not lived up to expectations.6:20 pm: Salena Zito, a political journalist and contributor to Townhall, joins the program to discuss her piece about the dire power grid problems much of America is still suffering.6:38 pm: Political Strategist Matt Mackowiak joins the show to discuss Joe Biden's low approval numbers and job performance reviews from public opinion polls.
History and civics education in America is languishing. A troubling number of Americans can't even pass a U.S. citizenship test. Pioneer Institute's recent poll findings on the topic are "pretty sobering,” explains Chris Sinacola, the organization's director of communications and media relations. The Pioneer Institute, a think tank based in Massachusetts, offers solutions for how schools and educators can ignite a passion for American history and solve the civics crisis facing the country in a new book, “Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America's Schools.” In Pioneer's poll, Massachusetts residents were asked questions drawn from the citizenship test. The questions were about “things that new citizens, or aspiring U.S. citizens, need to know and they need to get 60% to pass,” Sinacola says, adding that “the average score among our citizens was 63%.""So you can say, 'Yay, we passed, we can all remain citizens,'” he says, but it is a bit of an “indictment” when some Americans don't know how long a U.S. senator's term is or even how many members the Senate has.“It's a bit of a warning sign,” Sinacola says. Sinacola joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss America's social studies crisis and how to correct the the course. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
History and civics education in America is languishing. A troubling number of Americans can’t even pass a U.S. citizenship test. Pioneer Institute‘s recent poll findings on the topic are “pretty sobering,” explains Chris Sinacola, the organization’s director of communications and media relations. The Pioneer Institute, a think tank based in Massachusetts, offers solutions for […]
Episode 181 SCOTUS Wealth Tax: Are Appreciated Assets Income? by Pioneer Institute
Jamie Gass is Pioneer Institute's Director of the Center for School Reform. Campus Unrest and Sandra Day O'Connor's Legacy of Civics Education
Episode 180: Busting Big Business: Antitrust Comes for Google and Big Sandwich. by Pioneer Institute
Jamie Gass is Pioneer Institute's Director of the Center for School Reform. Restoring the City on a Hill. U.S. History and Civics in America's Schools
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! Guest Chris Sinacola, Pioneer Institute, joins to discuss history of Thanksgiving, civics in the nation, and education of young generation on American history. Is it time we bring politics and religion back to the dinner table at Thanksgiving? How will you handle the family get togethers?
Dr. Robert Popovian, Senior Visiting Health Policy Fellow at Pioneer Institute, tells us how Pioneer's new 340B website will allow everyone to evaluate how well the 340B program is working; Senator Mike Braun discusses the Promising Pathway Act; and Patients Rising Now has joined a group of other patient advocacy organizations on a letter calling for strong, meaningful and accountable PBM reform this year. Pioneer Institute Webinar: Pioneer Institute's 340B Website Demonstration Pioneer Institute Webpage
Guest Chris Sinacola, Pioneer Institute and co-editor of latest book "Restoring the City on a Hill", joins to discuss reforming history and civics lessons in school. Are we properly teaching US history, and raising a generation of civic minded students? Robert F Kennedy Jr. grows in the polls as an independent candidate....who is he pulling from? Discussion of third party candidates, and influence in elections. Look at RFK donors and support.
Bill Smith, Director of the Life Sciences Initiative at the Pioneer Institute, dives into the so-called update to ICER's value assessment framework; Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers explained earlier this year why she was against the QALY measurement; and Patients Rising Now along with several other groups have issued statements denouncing the ICER update. Pioneer Institute Webpage Patients Rising Podcast Episode: Healthcare Protections for Rare Diseases with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers Patients Rising Now Webpage: Patients Rising Now Statement – ICER's ‘Updates' are Thinly Veiled Strategy to Continue Discriminatory Tactics National Pharmaceutical Council Webpage: NPC Evaluates ICER's Revised 2023 Value Assessment Framework – A Missed Opportunity for Patients and the Field Biotechnology Innovation Organization Webpage: ICER's updated treatment assessment still ignores patient concerns
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute's Senior Fellow in Economic Opportunity Eileen McAnneny about the features and flaws of the recently passed 2024 Massachusetts state budget now waiting for Governor Healey's approval. Eileen McAnneny is a Senior Fellow in Economic Opportunity at Pioneer Institute. She was formerly president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, and has […]
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute's Senior Fellow in Economic Opportunity Eileen McAnneny about the features and flaws of the recently passed 2024 Massachusetts state budget now waiting for Governor Healey's approval.
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute's Director of Life Sciences Initiative Dr. Bill Smith about the policies that drove biopharmaceutical company from Europe to the U.S., and how proposed, similar price controls in President Biden's Fair Prices Act could distort incentives away from innovation and threaten the success of a thriving and vital U.S. industry. […]
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute’s Economic Research Associate Aidan Enright about his new paper “Debunking Migration Myths.” With this research, Aiden examines the link between Massachusetts’ tax regime and the outflow of high earners to states with more competitive rates. Joe an Aidan discuss how policy makers can use tax rate migration data to […]
Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute’s Senior Fellow in Economic Opportunity Eileen McAnneny about the contours of Governor Healey's $55.5 billion budget and tax relief plan, and whether they serve to make Massachusetts more livable and economically competitive. Guest: Eileen McAnneny is a Senior Fellow in Economic Opportunity at Pioneer Institute. She was formerly president […]