Alexander Russo

In defense of 'Abbott Elementary' The hit TV mockumentary about an under-resourced Philadelphia public school is stubbornly optimistic — and that’s not a bad thing.

The hit TV mockumentary is stubbornly optimistic — and that’s not a bad thing, writes contributor Ekemini Ekpo:

In defense of 'Abbott Elementary'
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/in-defense...

Yes! And we'd love any coverage too. You just have to RSVP journalism.columbia.edu/events

Ins & outs of video-first education journalism Oliva Krauth on getting started with video-first journalism — even if you don't like being on camera. The latest in our series on innovations, nontraditional voices, & emerging platforms.

Video-first reporting for education journalists

Oliva Krauth on getting started with video-first journalism — even if you don't like being on camera. The latest in our series on innovations, nontraditional voices, & emerging platforms.

open.substack.com/pub/alexande...?

Is it open to the public?

The Charlie Kirk backlash, voucher growing pains in FL, & a school-focused 'Subway Takes' 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (09/19/25)

Charlie Kirk backlash, voucher growing pains in FL, & a school-focused 'Subway Takes' (finally!) - 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (09/19/25) alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/the-charli...

One reporter's efforts to end 'passing the trash' in California schools If California finally joins other states in passing comprehensive reform against school sexual assault, investigative reporter Matt Drange will have had a lot to do with it.

One reporter's efforts to end 'passing the trash' in California schools
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/one-report...

How Efforts to Fund Schools More Equitably Actually Worsened Racial Inequality Researchers examined three decades of school finance reforms in 40 states.

Wildly misleading headline alert!

Hed: Efforts to fund schools more equitably actually worsened racial inequality

Article: States’ equity-focused school funding reform worked! But racial inequality grew anyway for other reasons (and b/c of differences b/n states).

www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

One reporter's efforts to end 'passing the trash' in California schools If California finally joins other states in passing comprehensive reform against school sexual assault, investigative reporter Matt Drange will have had a lot to do with it.

If California finally joins other states in passing comprehensive reform against school sexual assault, investigative reporter @mattdrange will have had a lot to do with it.

NEW: One reporter's efforts to end 'passing the trash' in California schools alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/one-report...

Is Jonathan Haidt right about smartphones? In ‘The Anxious Generation’, Haidt makes the case that social media and smartphones have ‘rewired’ today’s teenagers, but his critics say the evidence tells us something very different - and that bann...

From @alexanderrusso.bsky.social: Jon Haidt is going to be contributing to the education page at Bari Weiss’s The Free Press.

So maybe we can all take Haidt with a much, much larger gain of salt now?

And here’s a nuanced critique of Haidt’s Anxious Generation to send to all your friends.

Inside the Harper's magazine story about teaching at an ESA-funded micro-school As Harper's contributor Chandler Fritz explains, private school choice looks a lot different when takes readers inside the classroom and focuses on student experiences.

"This school where I was teaching had massive curriculum flaws… But the kids were genuinely happy." -

Inside the Harper's magazine story about teaching at an ESA-funded micro-school alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/a-student-...

My journalism career began when I responded to a Craigslist ad seeking a team of reporters to cover New Orleans charter school boards for $50 per meeting.

The Lens' Charter School Reporting Corps monitored adherence to sunshine laws during the rapid expansion of charter schools. We set the tone.

NEW: Disaster, decentralization, & the slow climb back to school transparency

"We were the enforcers of public meetings law." - The Lens' @martajewson.bsky.social

alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/disaster-d...

Inside an ESA-funded microschool, a foster kid success story, & hot times in Houston 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (08/22/2025)

Inside an ESA-funded microschool, a foster kid success story, & hot times in Houston -

🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (08/22/2025)

alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/inside-an-...

Alexander Russo's The Grade Taking a Closer Look at Education News. Click to read Alexander Russo's The Grade, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

Even in our public schools, foster kids are mostly invisible.

Gratefiul to @alexanderrusso.bsky.social at The Grade for posting this excerpt from my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, which shows how much impact one person can have.
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/45f6acd7-a...

An AI divide is growing in schools. This camp wants to level the playing field For years, research has shown a digital divide when it comes to schools teaching about new technologies. Educators worry that this could leave some students behind in an AI-powered economy.

Hello! I'm currently working on a series of stories for NPR about AI and education. I'm reporting on equity issues, academic integrity and the future of work -- as well as the risks and benefits this tech poses for children and teens.

First up: www.npr.org/2025/08/19/n...

Democrats in disarray, understanding Trump’s reversal, & 2 big departures in Dallas 🏆Best Education Journalism of the Week🏆(08/08/2025)

"Nearly 40 percent of young adults get at least some of their news on TikTok, but fewer than 1 percent of all TikTok accounts followed by Americans are traditional media outlets."

From @alexanderrusso.bsky.social's "The Grade," alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/democrats-...

Pushback against the Post, a new podcast about post-Katrina New Orleans, & new content from 'Sold a Story' 🏆Best Education Journalism of the Week🏆(08/15/2025)

Hey, everybody -- the 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week🏆 is now on Substack:

Pushback against the Post, a new podcast about post-Katrina New Orleans, & new content from 'Sold a Story' (08/15/2025)
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/pushback-a...

"Journalism, I love you. But you’re bringing me down.”

Why I Became an Education Journalist — & how I know the profession needs to change

www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/ed-mag...

Like many journalists, former WAMU ed reporter
@jennyabamu.bsky.social had long resisted video-first content creation. But then she figured out a way to join in that worked -- and she's got ideas how others could, too:

NEW: Why I finally joined TikTok kappanonline.org/abamu-why-i-...

YouTube video by The Grade Covering education - June 2025 in review

NEW: Three education journalists talk about the challenges and successes covering education in June -- and what might come next! www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Dj...

The Mamdani surprise, the ‘cool’ teacher, & an education talk show with dancing - Best Education Journalism of the Week (06/27/2025) - Kappan Online In this week’s newsletter: 📌 The surprise success of progressive New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. 📌 A revealing interview with the actor who plays the ‘cool’ teacher from a hit Broadway...

In this week’s newsletter:

📌 The surprise success of Zohran Mamdani.

📌 A revealing interview with the actor who plays the ‘cool’ teacher from a hit Broadway play

Best Education Journalism of the Week (06/27/2025)

kappanonline.org/the-mamdani-...

YouTube video by The Grade Inside the mind of the 'cool' teacher [beware spoilers!]

So fun talking with actor Gabriel Ebert about favorite teachers, reconsidering classic plays, and being the cool teacher in the hit Broadway play "John Proctor Is the Villain."

youtu.be/O88pvft4Nk0?...

A ‘tidal wave’ of litigation, the myth of local control, & the case for covering Weingarten/DNC - Best Education Journalism of the Week (06/20/2025) - Kappan Online In this week’s newsletter: Los Angeles has a billion-dollar sexual predator problem that seems likely to be mirrored around the country. No, angry parents and Asian-American voters didn’t determine th...

Lots of great education news coverage, plus a bit of discussion about the myth of local control and the case for covering Weingarten's role in the DNC (or the controversy about her influence).

kappanonline.org/a-tidal-wave...

Having the mayor/city council accountable for the schools *generally* gives incentives to elected officials who want schools to be successful.

Of course, many mayors just don't want the heat...

Learning from San Francisco  - Kappan Online "By trying to discern the message conveyed by a particular school board race, reporters may overlook many of the disturbing patterns that hold consistently across elections."

"Local control is a core value of many people, but as it turns out such control may stand in the way of effective schools."

"Voters who participate in school board elections routinely prioritize symbolic politics, employment concerns, and home values."

NEW: kappanonline.org/learning-fro...

A Cuban father who worked at a local candy factory in San Antonio was arrested while driving his two young children to school.

A Cuban father who worked at a local candy factory in San Antonio was arrested while driving his two young children to school. His wife "asked if she could give her husband a kiss before they took him. None of the agents responded" www.wsj.com/us-news/prot...

NEW: A wild week in DC, non-traditional education news, & Trump’s big commencement speech: 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (06/06/2025)

kappanonline.org/a-wild-week-...

A wild week in Washington, non-traditional education news, & Trump’s big commencement speech - Kappan Online McMahon and Schwinn appear before Congress — and Elon Musk trashes Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” Great stories about special education, English learners, and hidden obstacles that keep kids from scho...

NEW: A wild week in DC, non-traditional education news, & Trump’s big commencement speech: 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (06/06/2025) kappanonline.org/a-wild-week-...

Make room for non-traditional education journalism!? - Kappan Online Traditional journalism has been knocked off its pedestal. Alternative sources, approaches, and platforms are proliferating. What happens next?   By Alexander Russo A few months ago, I asked a parent f...

Traditional journalism has been knocked off its pedestal. Alternative sources, approaches, and platforms are proliferating. What happens next?

NEW: Make room for non-traditional education journalism!? kappanonline.org/make-room-fo...