معرفی
Kevin G. Welner is a Professor and Director of the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) at the University of Colorado Boulder's School of Education. His work focuses on educational policy and law, with particular emphasis on how research is used (and misused) in policymaking processes and the intersection between education rights litigation and educational opportunity scholarship.
Dr. Welner holds a PhD in Educational Policy from UCLA (1997), a JD from UCLA (1988), and a BA in Biological Sciences from UC Santa Barbara (1985). His interdisciplinary background bridges legal and educational domains, providing a unique perspective on education rights and policy.
His research examines tracking and detracking policies, tuition tax credit voucher systems, small-school reform, and the use of research evidence in policy making. Welner's work consistently emphasizes equity-minded reform efforts designed to benefit those with less power in school and community settings. His teaching philosophy focuses on developing students' appreciation for complexity while valuing evidence-based reasoning, with courses including School and Society, Social Foundations of Education, and Education Policy and the Law.
Over the past decade, Welner's publications have critically examined charter schools, school choice mechanisms, and the political dynamics shaping education policy, with particular attention to how research evidence is utilized in policy debates and the equity implications of market-based education reforms.
Dr. Welner's significant contributions to education research have been recognized with:
- Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) (2006)
- Palmer O. Johnson Award for best article from AERA (2004)
- Fellow of AERA
- Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Residency
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the National Academy of Education and Spencer Foundation
As Director of the National Education Policy Center, Welner oversees an editorial board, serves as editor of the policy brief series, and directs the Think Tank Review Project. He has mentored numerous graduate students, though as of 2024 he is not accepting new advisees. His work has been supported by various research grants focused on education policy analysis and school reform evaluation, with the NEPC serving as a critical resource for evidence-based perspectives on contemporary education challenges.
Dr. Welner directs the National Education Policy Center, which serves as a hub for rigorous policy analysis, bringing together researchers to examine critical issues in education policy with an emphasis on equity and evidence-based approaches. The center produces policy briefs, conducts think tank reviews, and provides research-based analysis to inform education policy debates.
