Jack Jennings

Center on Education Policy

Founder, Former President and C.E.O.

Jack Jennings has played three roles during his career: education expert for the U.S. Congress, leader in a national think tank, and author. Although John F. Jennings is his formal name, he prefers to be known as “Jack,” his nickname. Congressional Expert: For 27 years, Jack was the chief expert in education for the Congress , and in that role he was involved in every major education bill shaping national policy, such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Higher Education Act. Think Tank Leader: After retiring from Capitol Hill, Jack established in 1995 the Center on Education Policy, a Washington, D.C.- based nonpartisan, nonprofit education research organization. With the purpose of improving public education, CEP was recognized by Education Week as one if the ten most influential organizations in the country. In 2012 Jack retired from his position at CEP. Author: Jack has written four books, edited a series of another four, and written dozens of newspaper and magazine articles, penned policy papers, and so forth. His latest book is Fatigued by School Reform, and an article about private education which he wrote will appear in a comprehensive book on public education to be published in 2022. Background: Jack has a history degree from Loyola University of Chicago, and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, the National Academy of Education, and Phi Delta Kappa.