Julie Maxwell-Jolly

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Julie Maxwell-Jolly
Education Policy,
Research Professional

Julie Maxwell-Jolly is an education policy expert whose career has focused largely on English learners. She has served as a senior director of policy and programs at the California School Board Association; as senior education researcher and managing director of the Center for Applied Policy in Education (CAP-Ed) at the UC Davis School of Education; and senior program officer at the Stuart Foundation. Maxwell-Jolly specializes in working to improve education outcomes for underserved and underperforming students. Maxwell-Jolly began her career as a bilingual education teacher, and she’s been an education lecturer, supervisor of student teachers, education consultant, and researcher. She received her PhD in education policy from University of California, Davis. 

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Continuous school improvement & support
Educational governance & policy
Educator workforce & effectiveness
Understanding, measuring & improving student outcomes
Julie Maxwell-Jolly in the Media
: Scholars Say Teachers Lack Tools to Meet English Learners’ Needs
: Listening to Teachers of English Language Learners: A Survey of CA Teachers' Challenges, Experiences, and Professional Development Needs
Publications by Julie Maxwell-Jolly
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The Unequal Opportunity to Learn in California's Schools
Crafting Standards to Track Quality
This paper investigates the effects of class size reduction (CSR) on student achievement in California's K-3 classrooms. Using data from the state's Standardized Testing and Reporting program, the authors find that smaller class sizes improve…
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Crucial Issues in California Education, 2006
Rekindling Reform
This report discusses key education policy challenges in California, including funding, teacher quality, achievement gaps, and school accountability. The report highlights the need for equitable funding and effective teacher training and retention…
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Listening to Teachers of English Language Learners
A Survey of California Teachers’ Challenges, Experiences, and Professional Development Needs
This report highlights the challenges faced by English learners in California schools and the need for better implementation of policies supporting them. The authors emphasize the importance of recognizing students' diverse linguistic and cultural…
English Learners in California Schools: Unequal Resources, Unequal Outcomes
English Learners in California Schools
Unequal Resources, Unequal Outcomes
This article discusses the inequitable education provided to English language learners in California, arguing that there are seven areas where these students receive an inferior education compared to English speakers. That includes having less…