Rate My Professor Patrick Wolf

Patrick J. Wolf is the Distinguished Professor and 21st Century Endowed Chair in School Choice in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions in Fayetteville. In the Education faculty, his research focuses on school choice. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University (1995), an A.M. from Harvard (1993), and a B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas (1987). Before joining the University of Arkansas in 2006, Wolf served as associate professor of public policy at Georgetown University (2004-2006) and assistant professor there (1998-2004), as well as assistant professor of political science and public affairs at Columbia University (1995-1998).

Wolf's research specializes in education policy, particularly the effects of private school choice programs such as vouchers and charter schools on student achievement, civic values, and public funding. He directs the School Choice Demonstration Project. Key publications include the books 'The Education Gap: Vouchers and Urban Schools' (Brookings Institution Press, revised edition 2006), co-authored with William G. Howell and Paul E. Peterson, and 'Educating Citizens: International Perspectives on Civic Values and School Choice' (Brookings, 2004), edited with Stephen Macedo. Influential articles are 'School Vouchers and Student Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Washington, DC' (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 2013), 'School Vouchers and Academic Performance: Results from Three Randomized Field Trials' (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 2002), and 'School Vouchers and Student Attainment: Evidence from a State-Mandated Study of Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program' (Policy Studies Journal, 2013). He received the Significant Research Award from the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions (2011) and the Best Article Award from the Academy of Management's Division on Public and Nonprofit Management (1998). Wolf has served as consulting editor for the Journal of School Choice since 2012 and on U.S. Department of Education scientific peer review boards, along with national committees on education policy. Ranked among the top 50 education policy professors, his scholarship informs school reform discussions.