On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kristen Huff, the vice president of assessment and research at Curriculum Associates, joins Mike and David to discuss the academic performance our youngest students in the wake of the pandemic. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a new study investigating the demographic effects of test-optional policies at selective universities.

Recommended content: 

• “The Youngest Pandemic Children Are Now in School, and Struggling” —New York Times
• Ethan Young and Kelsey Young, “Student growth in the post-COVID era,” Curriculum Associates (June 2024). 
• “The Democratic replacement candidates on education” —Daniel Buck, Fordham Institute
• Adam Tyner, “Think Again: Do College Admissions Exams Drive Higher Education Inequities?” Fordham Institute (February 2023).
• Kelly Rosinger, Dominique J. Baker, Joseph Sturm, Wan Yu, Julie J. Park, OiYan Poon, Brian Heseung Kim, and Stephanie Breen, “Exploring the relationship between test-optional admissions and selectivity and enrollment outcomes during the pandemic,” Annenberg Institute at Brown University (June 2024).

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Daniel Buck at [email protected].