The Education Gadfly Show
For more than 15 years, the Fordham Institute has been hosting a weekly podcast, The Education Gadfly Show. Each week, you’ll get lively, entertaining discussions of recent education news, usually featuring Fordham’s Mike Petrilli and David Griffith. Then the wise Amber Northern will recap a recent research study. For questions or comments on the podcast, contact its producer, Stephanie Distler, at sdistler@fordhaminstitute.org.
The Education Gadfly Show
Managing district budgets during uncertain times, with Jonathan Travers | Episode 983 of The Education Gadfly Show
ERS president and managing partner Jonathan Travers joins Mike Petrilli on The Education Gadfly Show to talk about school district budgeting during uncertain times.
Then, on the Research Minute, Adam Tyner shares a new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality looking at district policies on pay bumps for teachers with master’s degrees, and how the money could be better spent.
Recommended content:
- The degree dilemma: School districts spend millions on ineffective master’s degree premiums —Katherine Bowser, National Council on Teacher Quality (August 2025)Close bad schools and expand good ones —Chad Aldeman
- When—and why—legislated school finance reforms don’t increase state education spending —Amber Northern and Jeff Murray
- An in-depth look at how Texas makes teacher merit pay work —Jessica Poiner
- The ESSER hangover is here —Marguerite Roza
Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org