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Morgan Polikoff

Professor of Education, University of Southern California
Chapter Member: Los Angeles Unified SSN
Areas of Expertise:

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About Morgan

Polikoff's research focuses on standards, curriculum, assessment, and accountability policy in K-12 education. His most recent book, Beyond Standards, analyzes the last three decades of standards-based education policy in the U.S. Polikoff uses quantitative methods from economics and educational measurement and mixed methods from public policy analysis. He has co-edited Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and associate edited the American Educational Research Journal.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

How Good Statewide Data and Careful Research on School Textbooks Can Improve Student Learning

Key Findings Brief,

In the News

Quoted by Greg Toppo in "COVID Worsened Long Decline in 12th-Graders’ Reading, Math Skills," The 74, September 9, 2025.
Quoted by Sarah D. Sparks in "Researchers Push Congress for Better Data Sharing in Education Partnerships," Education Week, October 27, 2017.
Quoted by Matt Barnum in "New Studies Suggest Choice of Curriculum and Textbooks Can Make a Big Difference for Students," The 74, May 1, 2017.
Research discussed by Anya Kamenetz, in "Here's an Idea: Change the Federal Definition of Student Achievement," NPR Ed, July 18, 2016.
Quoted by Liana Heitin Loewus in "Textbook Diversity May Be Increasing under Common Core," Education Week, February 25, 2016.

Publications

"When Public Opinion on Policy is Driven by Misconceptions, Refute Them" (with Stephen Aguilar and Gale Sinatra), Brookings Institution, January 2018.

Examines people's misconceptions about the Common Core standards and tests whether a simple intervention (a refutation text) can change those conceptions. Broadly applies to other areas of policy and science.

"How Well Aligned Are Textbooks to the Common Core Standards in Mathematics?" American Educational Research Journal 52, no. 6 (2015): 1185-1211.

Examines the alignment of elementary mathematics textbooks to the Common Core Standards and to previous versions of the same textbooks.

"Big Bang for Just a Few Bucks: The Impact of Math Textbooks in California" (with Cory Koedel), Brookings Institution, January 2017.

Investigates the impact of the most commonly-used elementary mathematics textbooks in California schools. 

"The Waive of the Future? School Accountability in the Waiver Era" (with Andrew J. McEachin, Stephani L. Wrabel, and Matthew Duque). Educational Researcher 43, no. 1 (2014): 45-54.

Examines the design of state accountability systems under the No Child Left Behind waivers and offers a framework in evaluating accountability systems moving forward.