August 2024

Tell us a little bit about your year on Capitol Hill, the issues that you covered, your responsibilities.

I worked on artificial intelligence and fusion energy during my Congressional Fellowship in the office of Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), who also serves as the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Some work duties included meetings, attending briefings, writing memos, and advising the Representative. During this Congress, we added several amendments to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) focused on AI education and ethics training in the military and Department of Defense schools. Rep. Larsen also co-led AI legislation to promote transparency and combat disinformation in federal elections. Ongoing legislative efforts include expanding opportunities for fusion energy and AI education and training in the military. On the committee side, we held a bipartisan AI roundtable to examine AI's impact in the transportation sector and laid the groundwork for future legislation reauthorization.

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned from the experience?

Sometimes, we tend to overlook the influence that decision-makers, such as staffers who guide elected officials, have on policy issues. Compelling advocacy matters on Capitol Hill, as does representation in decision-making rooms. I observed how various stakeholders presented their needs in meetings on Capitol Hill. For that audience, the most effective presentations got to their requests quickly, made a compelling argument, and had a convincing narrative. However, the other side of the equation is the need for representative and empathetic decision-makers.

What should education researchers know about the factors that go into education and science policy decisions?

If you want to shape policy meaningfully, choose your words carefully but remain bold in your work. In several congressional hearings, this Congress revealed the dynamic relationship between politics, education policy, and communication, particularly during a divided government and political polarization. There are paths to actualizing reform—such as through a new law or appropriations—but you should take a methodical approach, especially when developing legislation that can improve individuals’ lives.

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to fellow education researchers about how to connect their work to policy and effectively share research and data with policy makers?

First, you need to know your audience, in this case, policymakers, and how they would like to confront the issues. Second, stay abreast of the issues and position your research to address them so that you can contribute to the field. Third, build relationships with diverse colleagues and stakeholders—including those representing think tanks, policy groups, and academic centers—and reach out to them to build authentic working relationships. Finally, present your work in a policy-relevant manner with actionable recommendations.

How might this experience shape your future research and career decisions?

My research examines the political and technical aspects of reform needed to actualize change, especially equity-minded reform in educational institutions. I came to the Congressional Fellowship experience shortly after completing my doctoral studies, which focused more on local institutions. The fellowship experience has helped me develop clear recommendations, deal with challenging individuals and circumstances in policy, communicate concisely, and work quickly at the federal level. I look forward to using this experience in future research and as I move to the National Science Foundation.

How can other education researchers benefit from opportunities such as the AERA Congressional Fellowship to engage in policy?

Seeing policy in action matters greatly, and so does having a role in shaping it. The AERA Congressional Fellowship can provide an opportunity to legislate in real time by working in a congressional office or on a committee. An area of opportunity for congressional offices is accepting our ability to contribute different expertise and experiences to influence how Capitol Hill operates. As education researchers, we may understand the technical aspects of policy, but we can better engage with the political aspects. This fellowship provides a bidirectional avenue to learn about federal policy-making processes and education research use and an opportunity to contribute to both fields.

Xavier Monroe recently completed his doctorate in education policy and sociology of education at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. He is founder of Newhouse Consulting LLC, which focuses on translating research to effect real-world change through policy and practice. During his studies, Monroe served as an intervention teacher at a Title I comprehensive support and improvement school during the COVID-19 pandemic. His research explores actualizing equity-minded policies, reform implementation, and STEAM opportunities especially for underrepresented and marginalized communities.