The Century Foundation

09/03/2026

AI tutors are entering classrooms, but are students actually benefiting?

Our polling, covered by The 74, found 84% of Americans worry about tech companies profiting from students’ data, while nearly half want AI use in classrooms kept to a minimum:

With tools like Amira and Khanmigo, ‘the take-up is very low,’ according to Stanford University’s Susanna Loeb.

09/03/2026

Big news: We’re expanding TCF’s economic policy team to build a research agenda for an economy that works for working people.

Meet the four leaders bringing decades of experience in economic policy, government, research, and advocacy to this work:

Tonantzin Carmona joins TCF as director of economic policy.
She’ll lead our economic policy agenda, advancing solutions that expand economic opportunity and strengthen families’ economic security.

Kyle K. Moore joins TCF as chief economist.
He’ll anchor our quantitative economic research, bringing a stratification lens to the forces shaping the economic well-being of workers and their families.

Lorelei Salas, who joined TCF as a visiting senior fellow earlier this year, is now a senior fellow.
She’ll lead our Affordable NYC Now initiative and expand our work on consumer finance and consumer protection.

Sameera Fazili joins TCF as a visiting senior fellow.
She’ll lead a new project on international economics and domestic renewal, exploring how the U.S. can strengthen its economic competitiveness while building shared prosperity at home.

Together, Tonantzin, Kyle, Lorelei, and Sameera bring decades of experience and a shared commitment to building an economy centered on working people, not Wall Street.

We’re thrilled to have them!

Read the full announcement:https://t.co/EmUh03jH8M

09/02/2026

As students head back to the classroom, our polling found that bipartisan majorities of voters view the federal government as acting too slowly to address the proliferation of AI in schools.

This news from NYC is a promising step toward a more thoughtful approach to AI for our students.

Read more about our polling, which was exclusively shared with Scripps News: https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/education/poll-americans-want-stronger-rules-for-ai-in-schools

Students in the nation's largest school district return to classrooms next week.

08/31/2026

Kids are heading back to school this week, while parents are heading to the checkout line.

Our new analysis finds families will spend nearly $4,000 per child this school year, 10.7% more than last year on school and lunch supplies:

The first day of school is just around the corner, and families across the country are stocking up on notebooks, pencils, and juice boxes for the year

08/31/2026

What happens when students are too afraid to go to school?

Across the country, educators say immigration enforcement is fueling anxiety, absenteeism, and disengagement among immigrant-origin students.

Our new commentary looks at what schools can do to protect students and keep classrooms places of safety and belonging:

The 2025–2026 school year has brought significant changes to the educational landscape for immigrant, newcomer, and multilingual students. The U.S.

08/27/2026

AI is already in our classrooms. But are there rules to make sure it’s being used responsibly?

Our new report finds that nearly 4 in 5 Americans support government rules for AI in schools, with parents especially concerned about student learning, children’s data, and a lack of oversight.

So why is the federal government pushing schools to adopt AI faster while dismantling efforts to help schools use it responsibly?

Read the full report: https://go.tcf.org/k12poll

08/25/2026

As Washington embraces Big Tech’s push into classrooms and moves to dismantle the Department of Education, voters are calling for something very different: sensible guardrails on AI and technology, investment in the basics, and a public education system that works for every child.

As TCF staffers write: the question is no longer whether AI will shape our children’s education. It’s who decides how, on what evidence, and in whose interest. Our polling shows Americans have given their answer: public schools belong to the public, not Silicon Valley.

Read more about our findings: https://tcf.org/content/report/americans-are-united-against-the-tech-takeover-of-public-schools/

08/10/2026

Back-to-school costs are squeezing families even before the first day of class.

Our analysis with Groundwork Collaborative shows school supplies are up nearly 8% and lunch staples 11% from last year.

As TCF President Julie Morgan told Scripps News, families could spend about $4K on supplies and lunches this school year:

Parents gearing up for the back-to-school season may soon face sticker shock as prices for classroom supplies and lunchbox staples have increased significantly since last year.

08/05/2026

Big news: We're excited to welcome Ganesh Sitaraman as a trustee and Aya Ibrahim as a visiting senior fellow! Their experience and leadership will help strengthen TCF's work at a critical moment.

Join us in welcoming them to The Century Foundation! 👏 https://tcf.org/content/about-tcf/tcf-welcomes-ganesh-sitaraman-as-trustee-aya-ibrahim-as-visiting-senior-fellow/

08/05/2026

Payday loans can trap people in cycles of debt. People with disabilities are especially vulnerable: an estimated 1.8 million SSI recipients likely use payday loans, with lenders taking roughly $662 million every year from the disability community.

In a new commentary, TCF, the Center for Responsible Lending, and the Julian Bond Institute explain why payday lending is a disability justice issue and why policymakers need stronger protections against predatory lenders.

Read the full commentary:
https://tcf.org/content/commentary/no-ramp-out-the-payday-loan-hole-of-the-disability-community/