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United States Diane Ravitch is a renowned historian of education and educational policy analyst who has transitioned from policy advisor to a leading advocate for public schools.
Diane Ravitch is a Research Professor of Education at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, a position she held from 1994 to 2020. She continues her affiliation as a research faculty member and holds an emeritus position.
Ravitch held the Brown Chair in Education Studies at the Brookings Institution from 1995 to 2005 and is also recognized as a nonresident senior fellow.
In 2013, Diane Ravitch co-founded the Network for Public Education (NPE) with Anthony Cody. This foundation is dedicated to advocating against educational corporate reforms and supporting public education. Her role includes serving as President.
Ravitch participated in a "blog debate" called "Bridging Differences" with Steinhardt School colleague Deborah Meier on the website of "Education Week" from February 26, 2007, until September 2012. She also contributed articles to the publication.
Diane Ravitch writes for the "New York Review of Books," a prominent publication known for its reviews and essays on literature and public affairs.
Ravitch serves on the board of the Core Knowledge Foundation, an organization championed by E. D. Hirsch that focuses on developing a common, sequential, and challenging curriculum for all elementary students.
She serves on the board of the Albert Shanker Institute of the American Federation of Teachers, which focuses on education research and policy.
Ravitch serves on the board of Common Good, an organization dedicated to advocating for simpler, clearer, and faster government.
Diane Ravitch was born on July 1, 1938, in Houston, Texas, where she attended public schools from kindergarten through high school, graduating from San Jacinto High School in 1956. She continued her education at Wellesley College, earning her B.A. in 1960. Later, she achieved a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University in 1975, marking the beginning of her distinguished career as a historian of education. Early in her career, she worked as an editorial assistant at the liberal “New Leader” magazine and collaborated closely with her mentor, Lawrence A. Cremin, then president of Teachers College, Columbia University. Her first book, “The Great School Wars: New York City, 1805-1973,” published in 1974, provided a historical account of New York City public schools and explored themes of centralization, decentralization, and the impact of immigration on public education controversies.
Ravitch served in public office, appointed by both Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. From 1991 to 1993, she was the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education under Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander, overseeing the Office of Educational Research and Improvement and leading federal efforts to promote voluntary state and national academic standards. Following this, from 1997 to 2004, she was a member of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), supervising the National Assessment of Educational Progress. She held the Brown Chair in Education Studies at the Brookings Institution from 1995 to 2005, where she also edited Brookings Papers on Education Policy. Currently, she is a research professor at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and has been recognized as a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
A significant turning point in Ravitch’s career occurred around 2010 when she became an outspoken activist for public schools, shifting from a supporter of modern education reforms to a prominent critic. She openly renounced her earlier support for high-stakes testing, school choice, and charter schools, instead advocating for professional teachers and democratic public schools. Her blog, launched in April 2012, has become a leading education forum, receiving over 36 million page views. In 2013, she co-founded the Network for Public Education (NPE) with Anthony Cody, an organization dedicated to countering educational corporate reforms. Her books, including “The Death and Life of the Great American School System” (2010), “Reign of Error” (2013), and “Slaying Goliath” (2020), detail her evolving views and critical stance on education policies, focusing on issues like poverty and racial segregation as root causes of low student achievement.
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