Nationality United States Name Michael Kirst | Role Author | |
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Born August 1, 1939 (age 85) ( 1939-08-01 ) West Reading, PA Employer California State Board of EducationStanford University Residence Stanford, California, United States Books Who Controls Our Schools? Education | ||
Michael W. Kirst Public Lecture
Michael (Mike) W. Kirst is the current President of the California State Board of Education and Professor Emeritus of Education and Business Administration at Stanford University. The book he co-authored with Frederick Wirth, The Political Dynamics of American Education (now in its fourth edition), is widely used in the politics of education. In 2011, Kirst became the President of the California State Board of Education for the second time, after serving as President from 1977 to 1981. He is currently working with Governor Jerry Brown to increase funds to California schools.
Contents
- Michael W Kirst Public Lecture
- Why We Need a State and Regional Approach to Higher Education in Silicon Valley
- Biography
- Current Research
- University Positions
- Recent Selected Professional Experience
- Publications
- Editorial Boards
- Honors
- References
Why We Need a State and Regional Approach to Higher Education in Silicon Valley
Biography
Michael Kirst was born on August 1, 1939 in West Reading, Pennsylvania. He is married to Wendy Burdsall Kirst, with whom he has two children, Anne and Michael.
Michael received his bachelor's degree in Economics from Dartmouth College in 1961. In 1963, he received his M.P.A. in Government and Economics from Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard in 1964.
Dr. Kirst worked for the federal government before joining the faculty at Stanford. He held several positions, including Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Manpower, Employment and Poverty, and Director of Program Planning and Evaluation for the Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education. He also held positions in the federal Office of Management and Budget, the White House Fellows, and worked as a program analyst for the Title I Elementary and Secondary Education Act Program since it began in 1965.
Dr. Kirst also participates in a variety of professional organizations. He was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has been a member of the National Academy of Education since 1979. He was Vice‑President of the American Educational Research Association and a commissioner of the Education Commission of the States. Kirst co-founded Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE). Dr. Kirst publishes several entries a week in his blog, The College Puzzle.
On April 7, 2017, Dr. Kirst received the James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching from the National Board. The award, named after James A. Kelly, Founding President and CEO of the National Board, recognizes and honors individuals who have contributed to the advancement of accomplished teaching.
Regarding Dr. Kirst, Peggy Brookins, NBCT and the National Board’s president and CEO, shared: "Michael has been and continues to be a powerful voice in education for a long time. His passionate commitment in support of America’s schoolchildren, teachers and schools will have an impact for years to come...In the early days of the National Board, Mike was a valued senior consultant as we devised strategies to achieve significant state policy and financial support for National Board Certification and National Board Certified Teachers.”
Current Research
Dr. Kirst currently works as Co-Principal Investigator For the Gates Foundation Grant. He co-authored “Reform And Innovation In The New Ecology of American Higher Education”, 2010-2013, a proposal to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also served as the Principal Investigator for the Community College Implementation of California Early Assessment Program from 2008-2010.
Dr. Kirst also serves as an education advisor to California Governor Jerry Brown. He is the longest-serving State Board of Education president, having been appointed twice by Brown. Governor Brown credits Dr. Kirst with helping to design his education platform in 2010 and directing the state's new school accountability system, expected to be adopted in late 2016.
Dr. Kirst was the architect for California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which requires California school districts to develop three-year Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) to outline how they will spend funding to improve education for all students. The goal is to create simple school report cards and support low-scoring districts through county offices of education and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.
Recently, Dr. Kirst has written and advised on education in Silicon Valley, examining the differences in values, norms and change of pace between the post-secondary and higher education systems.
University Positions
Dr. Kirst has held a variety of university positions throughout his career. At Stanford University, he has served as:
Recent Selected Professional Experience
Dr. Kirst also has extensive professional experience outside of academia:
Publications
Dr. Kirst is the author of a variety of literature regarding school finance, curriculum politics, intergovernmental relations, and education reform policies.
Books:
Dr. Kirst has also written and contributed to 24 monographs, 177 essays, 54 newspaper and magazine articles, and 54 web-based and working papers.
Editorial Boards
Dr. Kirst has worked on the Editorial Boards of several organizations and publications.
Honors
Many organizations and academies have recognized Dr. Kirst's contributions. Dr. Kirst's honors include: