Douglas Harris is an Assistant Professor of Educational Policy Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison Affiliate, Institute for Research on Poverty, WCER. His research interests include achievement gaps and inequities, teacher quality, accountability, school finance, and the relationship between education and economic competitiveness. In addition to his academic research, he advises elected officials and other policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels and is frequently cited in the national media, including Education Week, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Harris has recently presented his work on achievement gaps and "high flying" schools at recent meetings of the Harvard Achievement Gap Initiative. Several other current projects focus on improving teacher quality. He is leading a team of researchers to investigate various approaches to training and selecting teachers, including the role of teacher certification and school principals' discretion in the hiring process. He is also investigating the possible effects of NBPTS teacher certification on student achievement. Harris has a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University.