Michael Dannenberg

Related Programs:
Education Policy Program

The founding director of New America's Education Policy Program, Michael Dannenberg is now a senior fellow. While director, he launched the Federal Education Budget Project, which generates and analyzes new, fiscally responsible ideas on the size, distribution, and efficiency of federal education funding. He also created and edited the influential policy blog Higher Ed Watch.Org that in 2007 broke news of the student loan “pay for play” scandal and put forth a series of major student financial aid policy ideas adopted into law. Mr. Dannenberg is recognized as a national expert on the No Child Left Behind Act, federal education budget, college admissions, and student loan policy. He and his work have appeared repeatedly in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Fortune magazine, and on CNN, CNBC, NPR, and the CBS News program, 60 Minutes.

Prior to joining New America, Mr. Dannenberg was the Senior Education Counsel to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), for whom he played a significant role in drafting  the No Child Left Behind Act, the Education Finance Incentive Grant program, the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act, and the National Science Foundation Reauthorization Act. In 2005, National Journal named Mr. Dannenberg to “The Hill 100” list of Congress’ most influential aides. Mr. Dannenberg is a 1998 graduate of Yale Law School and holds a Master’s degree in Education Policy and Administration from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Boston University. He is a first-generation college graduate who self-financed 100% of his post-secondary and graduate education with the aid of grants, loans, scholarships, and work.

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