Current Issues in Education

We are honored to share the Spring 2026 issue of Current Issues in Education, which we dedicate to the memory and legacy of David C. Berliner. Although many of our authors did not know Dr. Berliner, we see his commitments reflected in their work, demonstrating the enduring influence of his scholarship, mentorship, and advocacy across the field of education.

We begin this issue with a special editorial introduction, Critical Commitments in Educational Research and Practice and Reflecting on the Life of David C. Berliner, authored by our student editorial team. This introduction offers a dedication to Dr. Berliner written by his former students and colleagues, whose reflections offer a deeply personal and powerful account of his impact as a mentor, scholar, friend, and educational advocate. Following this tribute, we present four defining commitments that shaped Dr. Berliner’s work and are reflected across the eleven articles included in this issue. They are:

• Public Education as a Cornerstone of Democracy
• Education Research as Rigorous, Pragmatic, and “Morally Purposeful”
• Challenging the Narrative of the “Manufactured Crisis” in Public Education
• The Social Conditions that Shape Teaching and Learning

Each manuscript engages one or more of these commitments, illuminating how educational systems shape—and are shaped by—questions of access, equity, policy, and lived experience. Together, these articles demonstrate that meaningful educational change requires not only strong evidence and thoughtful critique, but also an unwavering commitment to the people and communities at the center of this work.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the authors who contributed their scholarship to this issue, to the reviewers whose careful and critical feedback strengthens the quality of each publication, and to our editorial board for their dedication to sustaining this student-led journal. We are also grateful to the mentors, advisors, and contributors who helped bring this tribute issue to life.

We invite you to engage with this issue as both a scholarly collection and a reflection of an intellectual legacy. At a time when education continues to face political pressure, technological change, and persistent inequities, these articles offer not only analysis, but direction; reminding us that research can and should serve the public good.

We hope this issue honors Dr. Berliner’s legacy while also inspiring continued inquiry, dialogue, and action in pursuit of more just, thoughtful, and humane educational futures.

With care,

Jami Carmichael, on behalf of the entire CIE editorial team