Background
Carrie Hahnel is a senior associate partner at Bellwether and leads the organization’s work on rapid field analysis.
Since joining the organization in 2022, she has led policy research and advising projects with advocacy organizations, foundations, research centers, and intermediary nonprofits. Carrie brings policy expertise in and leads engagements related to K-12 and higher education finance, declining enrollment and school consolidations, accountability and data systems, college and career readiness, charter schools, English learners, and other topic areas. Her research and commentary have been covered by the 74, CalMatters, Chalkbeat, EdSource, Education Week, The Los Angeles Times, PBS, and San Francisco Chronicle, among others.
Prior to joining Bellwether, Carrie worked as senior director of policy and strategy with The Opportunity Institute and served as an independent consultant to education nonprofits, including research, advocacy, and technical assistance organizations. She also served as deputy director for The Education Trust–West. During her nine-year tenure at the nonprofit, she led research and policy analysis to help advance California’s adoption of new state standards, a student-based funding formula, and a new accountability system. She previously served as director of research and evaluation for the KIPP Foundation, where she commissioned third-party studies of KIPP’s impact and advanced assessment and measurement practices across the national charter network. Carrie has also worked as an arts education advocate, and started her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer working to expand out-of-school time arts education opportunities in Riverside, California.
Carrie is a member of the Alameda Unified School District board of education. She received a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Why I Do This Work
It’s unconscionable that in a country with so much wealth and knowledge, we struggle to provide every child with a high-quality education and tolerate yawning gaps in opportunity and achievement. I do this work because I am committed to building a bright future for our young people, our country, and our planet — and that must begin with building a world-class educational system.
Focus Areas
District and Charter Systems and Governance
Rapid Field Analysis
School Finance and Resource Allocation
Contact Information
carrie.hahnel@bellwether.org
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