headshot of David Kirp

Research Bio

David L. Kirp is a policy consultant and former newspaper editor as well as an academic. Throughout his career, his main focus has been on education and children’s policy, from cradle to college and career, and he was a member of the 2008 Presidential Transition Team, where he drafted a policy framework for early education. In his seventeen books and scores of articles, in both the popular press and scholarly journals, he has also tackled some of America’s biggest social problems, including affordable housing, access to health, gender discrimination and AIDS. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Education. 

Research Expertise and Interest

public policy, law, social policy, higher education policy, politics and policy, primary and secondary education policy, race and ethnicity, early childhood policy

Featured in the Media

Please note: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or positions of UC Berkeley.

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent semesters
2026 Spring