Alex Molnar

University of Colorado at Boulder

Alex Molnar is a research professor at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education. He has published numerous articles on social and educational policy and practice. For the past several years, he has studied and written about commercial activities in the schools and market-based school reforms such as private school vouchers, charter schools, and for-profit schools. Molnar has a B.A. in history, political science, and education; two masters degrees, one in history and one in social welfare; a Specialist's Certificate in educational administration; and a Ph.D. in urban education.

E-mail Professor Molnar at: nepc.molnar@gmail.com

Publications
Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2013: Politics, Performance, Policy, and Research Evidence
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Gary Miron
Luis Huerta
Jennifer King Rice
Larry Cuban
Brian Horvitz
Charisse Gulosino
Sheryl Rankin Shafer
May 2, 2013
Promoting Consumption at School: Health Threats Associated with Schoolhouse Commercialism
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Faith Boninger
Michael D. Harris
Ken Libby
Joseph Fogarty
April 18, 2013
Study's Results Are Flawed and Inconsequential
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Kevin G. Welner
March 3, 2012
Privatization, Politics, and Policymaking in Public Education
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
March 1, 2012
Researchers as Resources: A List of Experts Who Can Speak to the Overall Knowledge Base on Important Education Issues
Policy Memo
Kevin G. Welner
William J. Mathis
Alex Molnar
January 23, 2012
The Educational Cost of Schoolhouse Commercialism
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Faith Boninger
Joseph Fogarty
November 7, 2011
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: Twelfth Annual Report - 2009-2010
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Gary Miron
Jessica Urschel
December 9, 2010
Effectively Embedded: The Thirteenth Annual Report on Schoolhouse Commercializing Trends: 2009-2010
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Faith Boninger
Gary Wilkinson
Joseph Fogarty
Sean Geary
December 2, 2010
Policy and Statutory Responses to Advertising and Marketing in Schools
Legislative Brief
Alex Molnar
Bill Koski
Faith Boninger
January 13, 2010
Click: The Twelfth Annual Report on Schoolhouse Commercialism Trends: 2008-2009
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Faith Boninger
Gary Wilkinson
Joseph Fogarty
October 6, 2009
Profiles of For-Profit Educational Management Organizations: 2008-2009
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Gary Miron
Jessica Urschel
September 14, 2009
Marketing of Food in Schools: Little Educational or Nutritional Content
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
May 29, 2009
At Sea in a Marketing-Saturated World: The Eleventh Annual Report on Schoolhouse Commercialism Trends: 2007-2008
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Faith Boninger
Gary Wilkinson
Joseph Fogarty
September 22, 2008
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: 2007-2008
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Gary Miron
Jessica Urschel
July 30, 2008
The Privatization Infatuation
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Kevin G. Welner
Alex Molnar
February 20, 2008
Adrift: Schools in a Total Marketing Environment. The Tenth Annual Report on Schoolhouse Commercialism Trends: 2006-2007
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Faith Boninger
October 1, 2007
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: 2006-2007
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
David R. Garcia
Gary Miron
Shannon Berry
August 1, 2007
Truthiness in Education
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Kevin G. Welner
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2007
A National Survey of the Types and Extent of the Marketing of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value in Schools
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
David R. Garcia
Faith Boninger
Bruce Merrill
January 1, 2006
The Ninth Annual Report on Schoolhouse Commercialism Trends: 2005-2006
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2006
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: 2005-2006
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
David R. Garcia
January 1, 2006
Empty Calories: Commercializing Activities in America's Schools
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
David R. Garcia
November 1, 2005
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: 2004-2005
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
David R. Garcia
Carolyn Sullivan
Brendan McEvoy
Jamie Joanou
April 1, 2005
School Commercialism and Adolescent Health
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2005
Data on Charters Lacking
NEPC Legacy Publication
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2004
Cashing in on the Classroom
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2004
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: 2003-2004
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2004
Reform Florida
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
Douglas N. Harris
Gene V Glass
Lisa Abrams
Madhabi Chatterji
Mary Lee Smith
Sherman Dorn
Tim Hacsi
Victoria-Maria MacDonald
January 1, 2004
Virtually Everywhere: Marketing to Children in America's Schools
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2004
Research Worth Knowing
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
SAGE Advice: Research on Teaching in Reduced-Size Classes
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
John Zahorik
Alex Molnar
Philip Smith
January 1, 2003
Low Pay + Big Classes = Teacher Crisis
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
The Commercial Assault on Children and the School Environment
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
Teaching Practices for Smaller Classes
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Anke Halbach
John Zahorik
Karen Ehrle
January 1, 2003
Parents, Are You Aware of the Commercialism Activity in Your School? You Should Be
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
Recruiting, Preparing and Retaining High Quality Teachers: An Empirical Synthesis
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
Gerald W. Bracey
January 1, 2003
No Student Left Unsold
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
Sold Out: Corporate Marketing in America's Schools
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
Class-Size Reduction: A Fresh Look at the Data
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Philip Smith
Alex Molnar
John Zahorik
January 1, 2003
School Commercialism, Student Health, and the Pressure to Do More With Less
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organizations: 2002-2003
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Glen Wilson
Daniel Allen
January 1, 2003
Testimony on AZ's Desegregation Funding Mechanism Prepared for Presentation to the Sunset Review Comm. of the AZ Legislature
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2003
School Reform Proposals: The Research Evidence
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
Barak Rosenshine
Catherine A. Lugg
Craig Howley
Douglas Downey
Gene V Glass
Gerald W. Bracey
Haggai Kupermintz
Jeremy D. Finn
Robert M. Carini
Ulrich C. Reitzug
W. Steven Barnett
January 1, 2002
Media Impact of Think Tank Education Publications 2001
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
Eric Haas
Rafael Serrano
January 1, 2002
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Companies: 2001-2002
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Glen Wilson
Melissa Restori
John Hutchinson
January 1, 2002
The Corporate Branding of Our Schools
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2002
Professional Development Needs of Teachers in SAGE Classrooms
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Daniel Allen
Glen Wilson
Sandra Foster
January 1, 2002
Salem-Keizer School District and Pepsi Pouring Rights
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2002
What's in a Name? The Corporate Branding of America's Schools
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2002
Tuition Tax Credits Can't Be Credited for Helping Poor
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Glen Wilson
January 1, 2002
Commercializing Schools: A Threat to Our Children's Health
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2002
2000-2001 Evaluation Results of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) Program
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Philip Smith
John Zahorik
Anke Halbach
Karen Ehrle
Lawrence M. Hoffman
December 1, 2001
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Companies: 2000-2001
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Jennifer Morales
Alison Vander Wyst
January 1, 2001
Companies and Organizations Involved in Schoolhouse Commercializing Activities
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2001
School Vouchers: The Law, the Research, and the Public Policy Implications
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2001
Let the Buyer Beware
Research Brief
Peter W. Cookson, Jr.
Alex Molnar
Katie Embree
January 1, 2001
Corporate Involvement in Schools: Time for a More Critical Look
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2001
The Media and Educational Research: What We Know vs. What the Public Hears
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2001
Buy Me! Buy Me!
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2001
Buy Me! Buy Me!
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Joseph A. Reaves
January 1, 2001
Evaluation of the Wisconsin Charter School Program, 2000-2001
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2001
1999-2000 Evaluation Results of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) Program
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Philip Smith
John Zahorik
December 1, 2000
Commercials as Curriculum
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Jennifer Morales
October 5, 2000
Looking for Funds in All the Wrong Places
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2000
Commercialism@School.com
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Jennifer Morales
January 1, 2000
Voucher and Class-Size Research
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Charles M. Achilles
January 1, 2000
ZapMe! Linking Schoolhouse and Marketplace in a Seamless Web
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2000
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Companies: 1999-2000
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Jennifer Morales
Alison Vander Wyst
January 1, 2000
Colonizing Our Future: The Commercial Transformation of America's Schools
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 2000
Student Achievement Smaller Classes and Educational Vouchers: A Research Update
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Companies: 1998-1999
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Jennifer Morales
Alison Vander Wyst
January 1, 1999
Cashing in on Kids
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
Integrating the Schoolhouse and the Marketplace: A Preliminary Assessment of the Emerging Role of Electronic Technology
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
Chronology of Edison Project Funding
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
School Chartering Processes: Academic Accountability Issues
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
Unfinished Business in Milwaukee
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
Educational Vouchers: A Review of the Research
Policy Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
The Commercial Transformation of American Public Education
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1999
1997-98 Evaluation Results of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) Program
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
Philip Smith
John Zahorik
December 1, 1998
The Hidden Costs of Channel One: Estimates for the 50 States
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
Max B. Sawicky
January 1, 1998
Sponsored Schools and Commercialized Classrooms
Research Brief
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1998
Smaller Classes–Not Vouchers–Increase Student Achievement
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1998
Alex Molnar's Testimony to the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1998
First Year Results of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education Program
Research Brief
Peter Maier
Alex Molnar
Stephen Percy
Phillip Smith
John Zahorik
December 1, 1997
The Real Lessons of Milwaukee's Voucher Experiment
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
August 6, 1997
Charter Schools: The Smiling Face of Disinvestment
Non-NEPC Publication by Fellows
Alex Molnar
January 1, 1996