@ua_edreform & @Office4EdPolicy; former CDO @Arkansasgov, TX PRB Chairman & philanthropy executive
Fayetteville, AR
Joined May 2010
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- Following511
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Josh B. McGee retweeted
Another day, another #SchoolChoice report release! This one is the annual accountability report on the Arkansas universal ESA program, called Education Freedom Accounts. Kudos to my @ua_edreform colleagues @mistygallo2 & @jbmcgee for leading on it. Highlights: 44,254 students participated in the 1st year of universal eligibility, representing 8.7% of government-supported K-12 students in Arkansas. Participation was widespread statewide, but highest in our major metropolitan areas in central and northwest Arkansas and in a few high-poverty rural areas.
35% of participants met one or more priority categories for service, including 16.3% with disabilities, comparable to the 16% rate for all Arkansas students. 60% used their accounts to attend private schools and 40% used them for microschools (3%) or homeschools (37%).
All K-10 students were required to take a standardized test chosen by their education provider to align with the content they received. EFA students scored at the 62nd national percentile in math and the 66th in reading.
Private school students spent most but not quite all of their EFA funds on tuition and fees. Homeschoolers spent their funds on a variety of educational products and services necessary to operate a school in the home.
The program re-enrollment rate from spring 2026 to fall 2026 for K-11 students was a phenomenal 96%.
Details here:
bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/wordpr…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Happy to share that our paper “Raising the Floor: Teacher Retention Effects of a Statewide Minimum Salary Increase” is now available at Education Finance and Policy: direct.mit.edu/edfp/article-…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Raising the Floor: Teacher Retention Effects of a Statewide Minimum Salary Increase - new article by my colleagues @gema_zamarro @jbmcgee @andrewcamp_ Miranda Vernon direct.mit.edu/edfp/article-…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Another opportunity to come and work with us! We are hiring a Research Scientist. This is a great opportunity for a quantitative researcher interested in conducting policy-relevant research on important education issues. Check it out: uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Calling all Hogs with interest in K-12 Education Policy! Attend Shape the Future: Earn a Fully Funded Ph.D. in Education Policy on September 15. I'll be there! news.uark.edu/articles/82771
Check out this great opportunity 👇. Come work with us!
We’re hiring! The University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Education Policy.
Come and work with us!
uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/…
If you are interested in a fully-funded Ph.D in education policy, check us out at edre.uark.edu!
Great summary of the attractiveness of our fully-funded Ph.D. program in Education Policy by @hpatrinos: "If you are curious, comfortable questioning conventional wisdom and want your research to matter beyond the university, then education policy is a great place to build a career." news.uark.edu/articles/82771
Come work with us!
We’re hiring! The University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Education Policy.
Come and work with us!
uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/…
Come work with us!
We’re hiring! The University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Education Policy.
Join a dynamic research community committed to rigorous education policy research and doctoral training.
Apply: uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/…
Please share widely!
Josh B. McGee retweeted
As Arkansas students head back to school, the evidence is clear: education remains one of the best investments we can make. More schooling means higher earnings, lower unemployment, and greater opportunity. My latest in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
arkansasonline.com/news/2026…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Our forthcoming book featured in the Arkansas News: The State of Education in Arkansas news.uark.edu/articles/82686
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Are potential teachers hidden in plain sight? Findings from Arkansas -- new piece citing work from my colleagues Wilson, @gema_zamarro, @AndrewMcKune, @jbmcgee nctq.org/research-insights/a…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Nice @NCTQ article about my paper with @thetaywil, @andrewcamp_ and @jbmcgee
Are potential teachers hidden in plain sight? Findings from Arkansas nctq.org/research-insights/a…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
New analysis from @UArkOEP shows that teacher retention in Arkansas varies dramatically by subject. Understanding where teachers stay - and where they leave - is essential for targeting recruitment, compensation, and support where they are needed most
@jbmcgee McKenzie @gema_zamarro
Read more: oep.uark.edu/arkansas-teache…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Great post by my @ua_edreform colleagues @jbmcgee & @gema_zamarro on variation in public school teacher retention rates across subjects in Arkansas. Over a 3-year period, 1/3rd of middle school social studies teachers left the profession but less than 1/6th of elementary teachers departed. oep.uark.edu/arkansas-teache…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
As Arkansas teachers prepare to welcome students back to school, we wondered: Which subjects are most likely to see teachers return to the classroom this fall? Check out my new blog post with @jbmcgee and Roy McKenzie here:
oep.uark.edu/arkansas-teache…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Researchers Continue to Inform Education Policy in Arkansas leadingwithcare.uark.edu/202… via @uacoehp
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Glad to see Arkansas represented and that my work with @jbmcgee could help inform this important article by @matt_barnum 👇 chalkbeat.org/2026/07/30/tea…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
A three-year study by researchers at the University of Arkansas will attempt to answer the question, "How will students fare academically after transferring into the Education Freedom Accounts program established by the Arkansas LEARNS Act?" arkansasonline.com/news/2026…
Josh B. McGee retweeted
Terrific story by @uarkcoehp @UArkansas about the pioneering evaluation of the Arkansas universal education savings account program led by me, @jbmcgee & @hpatrinos! It's going to be great! @ua_edreform
news.uark.edu/articles/82596