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Lisa Snell
Lisa Snell
Director of Education
Director of Education
Reason Foundation
lisa.snell@reason.org
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Bio
Lisa Snell is the director of education and child welfare at Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank advancing free minds and free markets.
Snell has frequently testified before the California State Legislature and numerous other state legislatures and government agencies. She has authored policy studies on school finance and weighted student funding, universal preschool, school violence, charter schools, and child advocacy centers.
Snell is a frequent contributor to Reason magazine, School Reform News and Privatization Watch. Her writing has also appeared in Education Week, Edutopia, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register, Los Angeles Times, and numerous other publications.
Ms. Snell is also an advisory board member to the National Quality Improvement Center for the Children’s Bureau; is on the charter school accreditation team for the American Academy for Liberal Education; and serves as a board member for the California Virtual Academy.
Before joining Reason Foundation, Snell taught public speaking and argumentation courses at California State University, Fullerton. She earned a Master of Arts in communication from California State University, Fullerton.
Contributions | Out of Control Blog Posts
- Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in State Government
State Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2011
Leonard Gilroy and Lisa Snell
May 1, 2012 - School Choice, Charter Schools, and Trends In Educational Privatization
Education Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2011
Lisa Snell
May 1, 2012 - Is the U.S. School System a National Security Threat?
Why Condoleezza Rice, Joel Klein and the Council of Foreign Relations are wrong about common core and national standards
Lisa Snell
March 23, 2012 - Taking Steps Towards Better Child Welfare Programs In Nebraska
The focus should be on the kids and outcomes, not reorganizing state agencies
Lisa Snell
February 8, 2012 - School Choice, Charter Schools, and Trends In Educational Privatization
Education Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010
Lisa Snell and Leonard Gilroy
February 15, 2011 - Where Did the Money Go? An Analysis of Spending and Revenue in Nebraska and Surrounding States, 2002-2008
Adam Summers, Leonard Gilroy and Lisa Snell
August 3, 2010 - Obama’s Education Spending Frenzy
After the administration’s first year, it’s status quo 20, reform 1.
Lisa Snell
April 9, 2010 - Fix the Schools
Close failing schools, open charter schools and replicate great schools
Policy Brief 87
Lisa Snell
March 15, 2010 - Ten Ideas to Fix Cleveland's Schools
Turn failing schools into charters, empower parents and principals
Policy Brief 86
Lisa Snell
March 15, 2010 - Lifting All Boats in Louisiana: A Vision for Transforming Louisiana's Education System
Interview with Paul Pastorek, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education
Lisa Snell
January 29, 2010 - Obama's Race to the Top May Help Spur Much-Needed Education Reforms
Schwarzenegger has opportunity to improve teacher performance and increase use of charter schools
Lisa Snell
August 24, 2009 - Lift Restrictions on School Outsourcing in California
Other states and school districts are saving millions by contracting out non-instructional support services
Lisa Snell
June 30, 2009 - Are Charters a Drain on Traditional Public Schools?
Charters are a legitimate part of the public school system
Lisa Snell
June 12, 2009 - Who Do Charters Educate?
The numbers prove that charters help disadvantaged students
Lisa Snell
June 11, 2009 - Weighted Student Formula Yearbook 2009
Examining the school districts using student-based "backpack" funding to improve results
Lisa Snell
April 30, 2009 - The Inconsistencies In President Obama's Education Plans
The rhetoric on charter schools, firing bad teachers and merit pay sounds good, but where is the follow through?
Lisa Snell
March 18, 2009 - Huge Stimulus Plan Won't Change the Education System's Status Quo
Throwing money at failing schools won't boost test scores or graduation rates
Lisa Snell
January 27, 2009 - Obama Can Help Rhee Fix DC's Schools
Tackling teacher tenure could launch meaningful education reforms
Lisa Snell
December 10, 2008 - Some Democrats Supporting School Vouchers
Positive development for school choice
Lisa Snell
November 1, 2008 - Preschool's Failures
Where are the long-term benefits?
Lisa Snell
October 31, 2008 - Universal Preschool Hasn't Delivered Results
Study after study shows no long-term gains for kids who attend universal preschool
Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell
October 17, 2008 - LAUSD Doesn't Need $7 Billion in Bonds
District's budget is rapidly growing even as enrollment declines, schools close
Lisa Snell
October 17, 2008 - Protect Our Kids from Preschool
Preschool doesn't show lasting gains and may do more harm than good
Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell
August 22, 2008 - More Evidence that Universal Preschool Doesn't Offer Lasting Benefits
By second grade the benefits of one of the nation's 'best' universal pre-K programs are gone
Lisa Snell
August 22, 2008 - Public Says Post Office Is Doing a Better Job Than Public Schools
New data from California shows how badly schools are failing African-Americans
Lisa Snell
August 18, 2008 - Failing Public Schools Wipe Out Any Preschools Gains
Sen. Obama's education plans should focus on charter schools, other reforms, not universal preschool
Lisa Snell
June 6, 2008 - Will a Democrat Please Stand Up?
Looking for someone to help kids stuck in California's failing schools
Lisa Snell
May 28, 2008 - Closer Look at California's Proposed Education Cuts
State budget deficit makes some cuts necessary
Lisa Snell
May 13, 2008 - Are Over 100,000 California Teachers Getting Pink Slips?
When it is time to make budget cuts, teachers shouldn't be the first to go
Lisa Snell
April 3, 2008 - "Instructionist" School Reform and School Choice
Low-income kids being left further behind in places where instructional reform doesn't include choice
Lisa Snell
February 6, 2008 - The Success of Charter Schools
Letter to the Editor
Lisa Snell
January 25, 2008 - Frequently Asked Questions About Weighted Student Formula
Is it the right school finance solution for Indiana?
Lisa Snell
January 24, 2008 - Weighted Student Formula and School Empowerment
Interview with Dr. William G. Ouchi
Lisa Snell
January 24, 2008 - Urban Schools Scores Rise When Parents, Principals Lead
"Weighted Student Formula" helping urban school districts close the achievement gap
Lisa Snell
August 26, 2007 - Preschool Reality Check in New Jersey
Long-term benefits of preschool are being overstated
Lisa Snell
August 9, 2007 - Money Talks
Give families school choice, and they will get choice schools
Lisa Snell
June 1, 2007 - Election Day Lessons for LAUSD
Let Students Vote with Their Dollars
Lisa Snell
May 15, 2007 - The Weighted Student Formula
Is There a Better Way to Fund Indiana Education?
Lisa Snell
March 15, 2007 - Indiana's Full-Day Kindergarten: A Wise Choice for Education Dollars?
Negligible, short-term results won't fix Indiana's schools
Lisa Snell
March 6, 2007 - Experimenting With School Choice: A Tale of Two California Districts
Oakland, Compton show school choice can improve results more than the status quo
Lisa Snell and Shikha Dalmia
February 23, 2007 - No Choices Left Behind
Competitive Models to Restructure California's Lowest-Performing Schools
Lisa Snell
December 12, 2006 - State Education Tests Don't Snuff Creativity
Parents get road map to follow progress
Lisa Snell
December 6, 2006 - Never-Ending School Bonds
Over budget and behind schedule is state's school-building motto
Lisa Snell
November 2, 2006 - Analysis of California's Proposition 88
Education Funding, Real Property Parcel Tax, Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute
Lisa Snell
October 18, 2006 - Addressing California's School and University Building Needs
Alternatives to Proposition 1D
Lisa Snell
September 1, 2006 - For Answer to LAUSD's Woes, Look North
Weighted student formula can help mayor improve Los Angeles schools
Lisa Snell
August 27, 2006 - Preschool For All? Don't Feed the Beast
Claims that preschool boosts reading scores later are at odds with history
Lisa Snell
May 25, 2006 - Assessing Proposals for Preschool and Kindergarten
Essential Information for Parents, Taxpayers and Policymakers
Darcy Olsen and Lisa Snell
May 1, 2006 - Hands Off My Fridge, Meathead
Taxing and tactics should be questioned in California universal preschool debate
Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell
March 16, 2006 - The Case Against Universal Preschool in California
Lisa Snell
February 22, 2006
