Brown Center Chalkboard

The Brown Center Chalkboard is where Brookings scholars and guest authors bring evidence to bear on the pressing issues in U.S. education policy, politics, and practice.

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Students attend history class taught by Jacob Marsh at Mark Twain Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia, on March 6, 2025, without smartphones due to the ban. The phone ban at the School is among a wave of measures implemented around the U.S., and is part of a global movement replicated in Brazil, France, and beyond. Supporters believe restrictions will guard pupils from the apparent harms of smartphone use while at school, but opponents say the measures fail to prepare teenagers for the digital world they will inevitably enter.

Education Survey: Parents and teens support school cellphone bans, and most don’t perceive major downsides

Anna Saavedra, Amie Rapaport, Daniel Silver

January 26, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on April 23, 2025, in Washington, DC. The seven executive orders were related to education policy including enforcing universities to disclose foreign gifts, artificial intelligence education and school disciplinary policies.

Education Brown Center scholars reflect on education after 1 year of the Trump administration

Jon Valant, Kenneth K. Wong, Michael Hansen, Katharine Meyer, Rachel M. Perera

January 20, 2026

A staff member at Kinder Academy engages with children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2024.

Society & Culture What happens when families cannot access child care subsidies?

Daphna Bassok, Isabelle Fares, Molly Michie, Kate Miller-Bains, Kennedy Weisner

January 20, 2026

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reads a Christmas book to students at Little Scholars on Dec. 11, 2025, in New York City. Mamdani visited a school and met with educators to speak about the importance of his campaign promise of Universal Child Care after meeting with business leaders to discuss how to fund the child care plan.

Education Access & Equity Crafting fair entitlements? New York’s unrivaled child care experiment

Bruce Fuller

January 16, 2026

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