ExxonMobil has been granted nearly $580 million in tax abatements in Louisiana since 2000. Barry Lewis/Getty Images

Louisiana governor makes it easier for companies to receive lucrative tax breaks that take money away from cash‑strapped schools

Louisiana’s governor made it easier for companies to receive property tax breaks – and schools will likely pay the price.
Exxon Mobil Corp.’s campus in East Baton Rouge Parish, left, received millions in tax abatements to the detriment of local schools, right.

How tax breaks strangle American schools − billions of dollars that could help students vanish from budgets, especially hurting districts that serve poor students

An estimated 95% of US cities provide economic development tax incentives to woo corporate investors, taking billions away from schools.
Exxon Mobil Corp.’s campus in East Baton Rouge Parish, left, received millions in tax abatements to the detriment of local schools, right. Barry Lewis/Getty Images, Tjean314/Wikimedia

Students lose out as cities and states give billions in property tax breaks to businesses − draining school budgets and especially hurting the poorest students

An estimated 95% of US cities provide economic development tax incentives to woo corporate investors, taking billions away from schools.
Charter school enrollment reportedly grew 7% during the pandemic. FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

Why charter schools are not as ‘public’ as they claim to be

Charter school enrollment grew during the pandemic. But behind these schools’ rising popularity is a history of harsh discipline, inaccessibility and targeted marketing.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks during the daily briefing on COVID-19 on March 27, 2020, in Washington, D.C. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Through her divisive rhetoric, Education Secretary DeVos leaves a troubled legacy of her own

US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has resigned. Five experts comment on the impact she had on education.
How do you measure the value of a charter school? Reuters/Lee Celano

Making sense of the evidence on charter school test scores

Imagine a police officer pulls you over and tickets you for speeding. She tells you she measured you going 50.5 MPH in a 50 MPH zone. No, you reply, my speedometer shows that I was going exactly 49.5…

Contact Kevin for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision