Education Data & Policy Expert
Data-driven policy for schools that work for every student.
Jacob Kirksey is an Associate Professor of Education Policy at Texas Tech University. He partners with districts, state leaders, and nonprofit organizations to use complex education data to inform policy and decision-making that strengthen student outcomes and economic opportunity.
42
Peer-reviewed journal articles
$20M+
External research funding
1,500+
Google Scholar citations
32
Policy briefs & reports for state and district leaders
What I study
All research →Educator workforce
Certification pathways, teacher preparation, and incentives like the Teacher Incentive Allotment, and what they mean for students.
College & career trajectories
Which readiness indicators, credentials, and pathways actually predict success in college and the workforce.
Absenteeism & attendance
Why students miss school, what it costs them, and which policies actually bring them back.
Recent work
Google Scholar →
Educational Researcher · 2026
Virtual pathways: Linking online alternative certification programs to student achievement and teacher attrition in Texas
Amer. Educational Research Journal · 2026
Missing classmates and attendance patterns in elementary schools
Texas Tech Policy Brief · 2026
The uneven promise of readiness: Which college and career readiness indicators actually predict success after high school?
Translating the Research
Uncertified Teachers in Texas
Jacob breaks down the data on the Texas teacher pipeline and implications for students, schools, and policymakers.
Research featured in
Associated PressThe New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalEducation WeekThe Texas TribuneHouston ChronicleThe Dallas Morning NewsAustin American-StatesmanThe 74The Hechinger Report
Legislative testimony
Before the House Committee on Public Education
Jacob testifies before Texas lawmakers on the state's teacher pipeline and what the statewide data shows.
Partner with DEEP Dive Education Consulting
Program evaluation, data capacity building, and applied research for districts, state agencies, and research-driven organizations.