The Education Policy Hotlist
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
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Brown v. Board of Education
14 min read
The article discusses school segregation and racial disparities in education. This landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared school segregation unconstitutional provides essential historical context for understanding ongoing debates about educational equity and district boundary policies mentioned in the article.
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Social–emotional learning
12 min read
The article mentions that 85% of schools believe their culture fosters social and emotional skills development. This Wikipedia article explains the pedagogical framework, research basis, and implementation approaches for SEL programs that have become central to modern education policy debates.
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Value-added modeling
14 min read
The article references Tim Daly's critique that 'value-added scores' were problematic in teacher evaluation reforms. This statistical method for measuring teacher effectiveness has been highly controversial, and understanding its methodology and limitations provides crucial context for education policy discussions.
Welcome back to the Education Policy Hotlist; I’ve missed our vibrant community!
April was a whirlwind of inspiring events and travel, which took me away from our regular news curation. I had the privilege of joining the National Parent Union at the U.S. Capitol, where hundreds of parents from 47 states united to champion literacy. The sight of families marching around the Capitol and the Department of Education was extraordinary.

At the annual BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) conference, over 700 educators explored the critical intersection of relationships and data in education. The BARR model’s potential is immense, and I’m eager to see it reach every student. Feel free to reach out if you’re curious about the BARR Center.

In Portland, alongside Kali Ladd of the Children’s Institute and Sara Pope from Stand for Children, I participated in the Portland Business Alliance’s panel on the Future of Portland Public Schools. Engaging with business leaders committed to supporting our families and children was invigorating.
Exciting news: I'm now open to consulting and full-time roles
This past year, I’ve enjoyed a different pace working as a consultant with respected organizations like Khan Academy, PIE Network, Our Turn, and Teach Plus, aligning with my purpose. As some of my current projects conclude, I’m open to consulting or full-time roles. I’m also open to relocating for the right position.
If you know of opportunities, please reach out via my calendar or email (christinemtpitts@gmail.com). Still deciding? Here’s what colleagues say about working with me:
“[Christine’s] knowledge and expertise in the field is unmatched. [She] taught me a lot about how to get things going at a state level and how to visualize a roadmap within government institutions. Any organization or corporation would be lucky to have [her] expertise!”
“Remarkable depth of knowledge, strong adaptability, and terrific collaboration across stakeholder groups.”
“… trust based collaboration from end-to-end.”
Check out my LinkedIn for my latest work. I look forward to connecting soon!
Mark Your Calendars
Learning Policy Institute is hosting a webinar titled Addressing State Teacher Shortages: The Promise of Apprenticeship Programs on May 16th at 2:00 p.m. ET. The conversation will cover teacher apprenticeship programs, including their potential to
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