Author: Educational Policy Institute

The Educational Policy Institute (EPI) is a Virginia-based research think tank on education and the social sciences. EPI conducts evaluation and policy studies on various educational issues from Pre-K to workforce outcomes in the United States, Canada, and beyond. Visit us at educationalpolicy.org.
2020, College Access, Research/Policy, ROI/College Outcomes, Workforce

Skills Versus Degrees: The Administration Got This One Right

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that would allow the federal government to hire by merit rather than by degree. “Degree-based hiring is especially likely to exclude qualified candidates for jobs related to emerging technologies and those with weak connections between educational attainment and the skills or competencies required to perform them. … Continue reading Skills Versus Degrees: The Administration Got This One Right

Educational Policy Institute2 Comments
2020, Research/Policy

Why are COVID-19 Data so Inconsistent?

Today, June 5, the United States reached the 110,000 COVID-19-related death mark. As a policy analyst and researcher, I follow the data very closely. In fact, I am in Day 80 of tracking new daily cases, new daily deaths, and total deaths for the virus, which I then repurpose into charts on Facebook and Twitter. The frustrating part is that I’ve found the numbers erratic, … Continue reading Why are COVID-19 Data so Inconsistent?

Educational Policy InstituteLeave a comment
2020, College Affordability, ROI/College Outcomes

Should Colleges Reduce Tuition Charges Due to COVID-19?

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute Over 25 lawsuits are currently being levied against universities by various student groups (and their legal representation) in demand of tuition and fee refunds due to COVID-19 closures. The argument is that students are paying a standard fee for online classes that are not of the same quality as those provided in person. In … Continue reading Should Colleges Reduce Tuition Charges Due to COVID-19?

Educational Policy InstituteLeave a comment
2020, admissions, College Access, Research/Policy

Dropping the SAT and ACT? Good Luck with That

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute News out of California is that the University of California system is dropping the ACT and SAT as a requirement for admissions into one of the country’s largest and most selective college systems, serving over 285,000 students each year. For equity activists, this is a big win as testing has historically been shown to … Continue reading Dropping the SAT and ACT? Good Luck with That

Educational Policy Institute2 Comments
2020, Research/Policy

Lawrence E. Gladieux

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute Larry Gladieux passed away last week in Eugene, Oregon due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 76. Many of you may not know who Larry was, but he was, for over a quarter century, a giant in higher education. He wasn’t a president. Or dean. He was a policy wonk. He studied higher … Continue reading Lawrence E. Gladieux

Educational Policy Institute1 Comment