Member Since 2009


Paul T. Hill is Founder of the Center on Reinventing Public Education and Research Professor at the University of Washington Bothell. His current work focuses on re-missioning states and school districts to promote school performance; school choice and innovation; finance and productivity; and improving rural schools. Dr. Hill is lead author (with Lawrence Pierce and James Guthrie) of Reinventing Public Education: How Contracting Can Transform America’s Schools (University of Chicago Press, 1997). His books include A Democratic Constitution for Public Education (2014), Strife and Progress: Portfolio Strategies for Managing Urban Schools (2012), Learning as We Go: Why School Choice Is Worth the Wait (2010), Making School Reform Work: New Partnerships for Real Change (2004), Charter Schools and Accountability in Public Education (2002), It Takes A City: Getting Serious About Urban School Reform (2000), and Fixing Urban Schools (1998). He is editor (with Julian Betts) of Taking Measure of Charter Schools: Better Assessments, Better Policymaking, Better Schools (2010), and editor of Charter Schools Against the Odds (2006). Before joining the University of Washington faculty, Dr. Hill worked for 17 years as a Senior Social Scientist in RAND’s Washington office, where he served as Director of Washington Operations (1981-87) and Director of the Education and Human Resources program (1979-80). Dr. Hill holds a PhD and MA from Ohio State University and a BA from Seattle University, all in Political Science.

Published Articles & Media

Ratchet Effect: The Continuous Evolution of the Portfolio Strategy

The portfolio strategy can thrive and spread over time by creating good new schools and meaningful learning pathways; building parental support and aligned nonprofits; waiting out the inevitable returns to ineffective centralization; and when the demand for better learning opportunities becomes strong again, building further.

An Interview with Paymon Rouhanifard: Charting Camden’s Path to Improvement

Paymon Rouhanifard has been the superintendent of Camden City Public Schools in New Jersey since 2013.

Charter Schools, Segregation, and Anxiety About Social Cohesion

A review of Choosing Charters: Better Schools or More Segregation?

The Future of the Charter School Movement Requires a New Political Strategy

The charter movement now has a limited constituency and some real enemies who are not likely to be deflected by facts or argument.

Charters Must Avoid Recreating the Failed School District Financial Model

It’s troubling to see that many charter schools and CMOs are steadily accumulating fixed costs.

A Troubling Contagion: The Rural 4-Day School Week

In an environment where young rural adults already suffer from isolation and low economic opportunity, the shorter school week could exacerbate their problems.

A Better Future for Rural Communities Starts at the Schoolhouse

Students need to know that the economy constantly changes and that everyone, no matter how well educated, must be alert to trends in the demand for skills.

“Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick”: Why State Chiefs Should Do Both

To fully exploit ESSA’s expanded possibilities for state leadership on school and district improvement, state superintendents will need a wide range of skills.

Remembering an Academic, Entrepreneur, and Leader

John Chubb's pioneering work in education policy

Wells Fargo and the Atlanta Schools Testing Scandal

Wells Fargo is learning a hard and correct lesson—that performance incentives need to be realistic, that results must be checked, and that managers must question rosy results.

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