R Street’s program on Civil Society, Education and Work studies the building blocks of society and governing, including localism, federalism, social capital, tradition, philanthropy and mediating institutions. It produces research, analysis and commentary to inform policymakers’ work on a range of domestic policies. Our initiatives have a particular focus on schools and workforce training as essential contributors to America’s effort to form citizens, workers, and public leaders.
The Issue
Publications
Washington,
D.C. (April 16) – The R Street Institute applauds the
introduction of the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL Act) introduced last
week by Senators Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Mike Lee,…
, EdChoice
EdChoice Chats: Talking Rural Education with Mike McShane and Andy Smarick
Media Coverage
On this episode of EdChoice Chats, EdChoice’s Director of National Research Mike McShane talks with Andy Smarick, the civil society education and work director at the R Street…
Anti-Vaccine Hysteria is Leading to Disease Outbreaks
Media Coverage
From Independent Women’s Forum:
As Eli Lehrer of the R Street Institute and I wrote in an opinion article last week, these monitoring programs can help state health officials track…
To Improve Rural Schools, Focus on their Strengths
Andy Smarick
A consistent criticism of education reform is that much of the agenda has been based on what some call a “deficit mindset.” That is, reformers saw individuals, institutions, and communities as…
School Choice for All?
Media Coverage
From City Journal:
By encouraging states to sponsor nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations, EFS would encourage what R Street’s Andy Smarick calls “real decentralization.”
‘Alienated America,’ a Self-Help Book for You and Your Community
Media Coverage
From America’s Future Foundation:
The main crux of the book, as others have described in numerous positive book reviews, is that the places that thrive are places with a strong civil society…
DeVos allows religious groups to provide taxpayer-funded services in private schools
Media Coverage
From The Washington Post:
Andy Smarick, an education researcher and former president of the Maryland State Board of Education, said he expects lawsuits to be filed in response.
“It’s…
Test prep to get into vocational education? Yup, it’s a thing
Media Coverage
From The Hechinger Report:
“New Jersey’s county vocational schools are the embodiment of this idea that if our current institutions aren’t solving a problem, how can we create conditions so…
Charter Anxiety
Media Coverage
From Governing:
Proponents and critics agree that the charter movement is not going away anytime soon. It has been the source of fissures in the Democratic Party, but they are unlikely to lead to…