Skip to main content

April

09

2024

Past Event

The Case for Curriculum Reform

American Enterprise Institute

The education reform movement over the past few decades has focused on standardized testing, accountability, and programs to transform the teacher workforce. During this time, there was surprisingly little conversation about the often slapdash and unchallenging curricula that define many American classrooms. Could curriculum reform be the answer to some of the longest-standing questions in education? If so, will school and school system leaders be willing to take it on?

Join AEI Senior Fellow Robert Pondiscio, StandardsWork’s Barbara Davidson, TNTP’s Kristen McQuillan, Orlando Riddick of the Houston Independent School District, and Johns Hopkins University’s David Steiner for a discussion on curriculum reform efforts and the promise they hold to further the goals of American education.

Event Description

The education reform movement over the past few decades has focused on standardized testing, accountability, and programs to transform the teacher workforce. During this time, there was surprisingly little conversation about the often slapdash and unchallenging curricula that define many American classrooms. Could curriculum reform be the answer to some of the longest-standing questions in education? If so, will school and school system leaders be willing to take it on?

Join AEI Senior Fellow Robert Pondiscio, StandardsWork’s Barbara Davidson, TNTP’s Kristen McQuillan, Orlando Riddick of the Houston Independent School District, and Johns Hopkins University’s David Steiner for a discussion on curriculum reform efforts and the promise they hold to further the goals of American education.

Agenda

4:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks:
Robert Pondiscio, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

4:05 p.m.
Panel Discussion

Panelists:
Barbara Davidson, Executive Director, Knowledge Matters Campaign, StandardsWork
Kristen McQuillan, Partner, TNTP
Orlando Riddick, Division Superintendent, Houston Independent School District
David Steiner, Executive Director, Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy

Moderator:
Robert Pondiscio, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

4:50 p.m.
Q&A

5:00 p.m.
Adjournment

The End of the Food Security Supplement in the Current Population Survey: Next Steps

July 16, 2026 | Angela Rachidi and Craig Gundersen

Abstract Since 1996, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published an annual report on...

Trump Takes Dramatic Step Toward Curbing Rampant Fraud in State Unemployment Programs

July 11, 2026 | Matt Weidinger

The Trump administration is threatening to use “every available enforcement tool” to compel states to better protect unemployment benefits against fraud and abuse.

Americans Still Believe in Work. The AI Crowd Hasn’t Gotten the Memo

July 9, 2026 | Matt Weidinger

Promises of vast new work-free benefits seem somewhere between a believe-it-when-I-see-it vision and just the latest liberal plan to expand an already-bloated welfare state.

How to Strengthen the Climb From the Safety Net

July 9, 2026 | Angela Rachidi

Executive summary Wisconsin has long benefited from low poverty rates and relatively high labor force...