Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D. is the director of education policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. His research focuses on student achievement, testing, accountability, teacher quality, funding, and choices in educational alternatives.

Before joining the Mackinac Center in 2002, Dr. Johnson was Senior Policy Analyst for The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis in Washington, D.C. where he conducted statistical research on academic achievement issues. Prior to that, he worked at the U.S. Census Bureau, George Mason University, the University of North Texas, and taught economics at a college in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Johnson’s research has been featured in a host of publications across the nation, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Investor's Business Daily, and the Detroit News. His Ph.D. is in Public Policy from George Mason University.

Elizabeth H. Moser is education research associate at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Ms. Moser also serves as the Managing Editor of Michigan Education Report, a quarterly journal focused on K-12 education issues in the state of Michigan, and Managing Editor of Michigan Education Digest, a weekly email education news update.