Throughout the 2024 cohort year, scholars from the Education Scholars Training Program (ESTP) achieved a range of impactful milestones. They participated in monthly virtual trainings focused on effectively connecting their research to policy. These skills were put into action through meetings with U.S. Congressional Representatives and Senators to promote research-informed policymaking. Scholars also engaged with policymakers at state legislatures in states such as California, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others. They also collaborated with civic organizations, including education nonprofits and advocacy groups, to further strengthen the connection between research and real-world impact. Scholars distilled their research through various written contributions, including published op-eds, policy briefs, and fact sheets shared with policymakers. Learn how ESTP supports scholars in bridging research and policy here.
2024 Education Scholars Training Program
2024 ESTP Cohort Accomplishments
Meet the 2024 ESTP Cohort Members
Contributions
Policy Memo | Advancing Student Belonging Through Broader Definition and Methods
By Paulette Garcia Peraza and Giselle Laiduc
"...Incorporating qualitative methods—such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic research—into existing institutional assessments can provide richer, more actionable insights."
Published on June 20th, 2025
Public Comment | U.S. Department of Education's Proposed Title IV Regulations
"...I strongly urge, including diverse voices in this rulemaking process, especially Black, Indigenous and borrowers and representatives from HSIs and MSIs."
Public comment given on May 1st, 2025
Policy Brief | Supporting Sociocultural and Sociopolitical Curriculum through Teacher Professional Development in New Jersey
“If these mandates are to be anything more than symbolic, there must be concerted effort to equip educators, schools, and communities with the resources, preparation, and knowledge to carry them out effectively.”
Published on March 6th, 2025
Policy Brief | Advancing Inclusive Family Engagement in Teacher Preparation for Students with (Dis)abilities
“Students with (dis)abilities and their families matter. We have to do more than communicate this through speech but also through action.”
Published on March 4th, 2025
Opinion | School closures threaten the heart of Arizona communities
"Arizona’s school closures are largely the product of 30 years of aggressive so-called 'school choice' policies that have created one of the most competitive and fragmented education systems in the nation."
Published in Arizona Mirror on January 29th, 2025
Opinion | The AI Revolution in the Classroom: Why Education Departments Must Prepare Teachers for the Future
"One thing is certain: AI is here to stay, and Teacher Preparation Programs (TPPs) have a critical responsibility to prepare future educators for the new realities of the AI-augmented classroom."
Published in Higher Education Digest on November 5th, 2024
Opinion | What a small, all-Black private school can teach Florida about the reading wars
By Cheron Davis
"It’s time to move beyond fads and the myth of indoctrination and invest in what works: high-quality, culturally responsive literacy practices that prepare every child for success."
Published in Tampa Bay Times on August 21st, 2024
Opinion | We Must Help Save America’s Historic Black Colleges
By Cheron Davis
"The only way to save our HBCUs — tributes to the brave work of our Black ancestors — is through financial support or donated time and expertise."
Published in Diverse: Issues In Higher Education on July 28th, 2024
Contact Info
To learn more about the program or to get involved, please contact SSN Senior Policy Associate Maxcy Grasso at [email protected] or Director of Policy Andrew Pope at [email protected].