Jack Schneider

Jack Schneider is Dwight W. Allen Distinguished Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he directs the Center for Education Policy. He is a historian and policy analyst who studies the influence of politics, rhetoric, culture, and information in shaping attitudes and behaviors. His work explores why particular ideas gain policy traction, how public perceptions of schools take shape, why education reform so often fails, and how organizations can use data to empower stakeholders. He is the author of six books, the latest of which is The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual (with Jennifer Berkshire).  His research has appeared in journals like AERA Open, the American Journal of Education, Educational Policy, the Harvard Educational Review, the Journal of Education Policy, the Journal of Teacher Education, and Teachers College Record.

At UMass Amherst, Dr. Schneider leads the Center for Education Policy, which is home to the the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment, and the Annual Massachusetts Educator Survey. The Center seeks to strengthen PK-12 schooling and higher education through democratic decision-making and the use of evidence.

In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Schneider writes frequently for the public in outlets like the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. And, along with journalist Jennifer Berkshire, he co-hosts the education policy podcast “Have You Heard.” For his writing and public engagement, Dr. Schneider has been honored by the Association of American Publishers and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.