Douglas Carnine on The Science of Learning

As the author of "Why Education Experts Resist Effective Practices," I want to extend my sincere thanks to Jim Hewitt and Nidhi Sachdeva for so powerfully building upon the foundation I laid 25 years ago. Their recent essay breathes new life into those early assertions, transforming them into a well-reasoned, deeply researched, and urgently relevant call to action for 2025 and beyond. What makes their contribution so impactful is not only the clarity of their critique but the depth of their scholarship. They draw upon a rich body of research accumulated over the past quarter-century—research that strengthens their arguments and makes their recommendations both timely and essential. I could easily point to a dozen or more ways in which they integrate these findings to illuminate the path forward for education reform. As they so compellingly argue, while evidence-based professions have driven remarkable progress in fields like medicine and engineering over the past 50 years, education has seen only modest gains—particularly reflected in the stagnation of NAEP scores. Their analysis underscores the urgent need to bring the same rigor and accountability to education. It is precisely this kind of evidence-driven advocacy that inspired Kelly Butler, Reid Lyon, Linda Diamond, and me to launch the Evidence Advocacy Center. Jim and Nidhi’s work exemplifies the mission we envisioned: to empower educators with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to drive meaningful improvements in student achievement.