Publications

The State of Teacher Diversity in American Education

At the same time that the minority student population in the U.S. has increased dramatically, the percentage of nonwhite teachers nationwide only increased from 12 to 17 percent between 1987 and 2012. This report analyzes the national trends and takes a closer look at what has been happening in nine major U.S. cities, finding that substantial representation gaps between minority teachers and minority students persist.
The State of Teacher Diversity Executive Summary

The State of Teacher Diversity Executive Summary
The Evidence on the "Florida Formula" for Education Reform

A review of the high quality evidence on the "Florida Formula for education success," a package of policies put in place during the late 1990s and 2000s, which focus generally on test-based accountability, competition, and choice.
Literacy Ladders

This curated collection of essays for early childhood educators and others examines the research on increasing young children's language, knowledge, and reading comprehension.
Democracy's Champion

This report chronicles Al Shanker’s contributions in the international arena. It documents Shanker's many international endeavors to support democracy and workers’ rights and records the living memories of those who worked with him.
Spending by Major Charter Management Organizations in Three States

A detailed analysis of spending by the major Charter Management Organizations in three states.
The Evidence on Charter Schools and Test Scores

Charter schools are among the most controversial issues in education today, with much of the debate focused on whether they
American Labor in U.S. History Textbooks

The study conducted by the Institute in cooperation with the American Labor Studies Center (ALSC) makes the argument that labor history is central to an accu
Muslim Voices on Democracy: A Reader

A resource for American teachers and students on the turbulent events taking place in many Islamic countries.
Preschool Curriculum: What's In It For Children and Teachers

Preschool Curriculum is an accessible research synthesis of how and how much young children learn in the academic domains of oral language, literacy

Recent Blog Posts

Publications

The Source Code: Revenue Composition and the Adequacy, Equity, and Stability of K-12 School Spending
A national analysis of the relationship between K-12 revenue composition—that is, the percentage of funding that comes from state versus local sources—and the adequacy, equity, and stability of school spending.
The Adequacy and Fairness of State School Finance Systems (Fifth Edition)
A national evaluation of the K-12 school finance systems of all 50 states and D.C., published by researchers from the Albert Shanker Institute, University of Miami, and Rutgers Graduate School of Education.
Constitution Day 2022 Resources and Blog Series
As we recognize Constitution Day this year, so much is stake—our institutions, our rights and our ability to teach. So the Albert Shanker Institute and Share My Lesson are launching a series of teach-ins to provide content knowledge on the rights granted in the Constitution, with teachable strategies for the classroom.

Blog Archives

Our Mission

The Albert Shanker Institute, endowed by the American Federation of Teachers and named in honor of its late president, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to three themes - excellence in public education, unions as advocates for quality, and freedom of association in the public life of democracies. With an independent Board of Directors (composed of educators, business representatives, labor leaders, academics, and public policy analysts), its mission is to generate ideas, foster candid exchanges, and promote constructive policy proposals related to these issues.

This blog offers informal commentary on the research, news, and controversies related to the work of the Institute.