Richard Innes brings a uniquely independent viewpoint to public education research informed by his many years of experience as an Air Force instructor and by approaching those studies from a parent-oriented perspective.
Since joining the Bluegrass Institute in 2003, Innes has produced reports, blogs and videos exposing issues in Kentucky’s education system, including inaccurate graduation rate reporting, flawed school-assessment programs and weak education standards in subjects like social studies and science.
In 1999, Innes’ research revealed inconsistencies in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scoring due to uneven exclusion of learning-disabled students, prompting the NAEP governing board to issue cautions and improve exclusion reporting. His work has also highlighted successful reforms in other states, such as Mississippi’s NAEP fourth-grade reading improvements and Florida’s gains through school choice while noting Kentucky’s lackluster performance.
Innes’ recent research supported legislation to enhance reading instruction quality and improve Kentucky’s social studies standards. He continues to evaluate the state’s education system, focusing on testing and accountability programs to advocate for effective reforms.
