Education Policy Analysis Archives - Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education - Manufacturing Edu-Preneur Networks to Promote and Reinforce Privatization/Marketization in Education

Oct 15, 2026

Each year Forbes grants a small set of “edu-preneurs” the 30 Under 30 Award in Education (Under30), presenting them as leading hopes for revolutionizing and reforming education. The study uses social network analytic methods to untangle connections among awardees, their organizations, judges, and the broader education-reform network. Findings indicate Under30 functions as a mechanism for social closure and ideological homophily, shaped through neoliberal language and norms. Policy implications address effects on public discourse and policy creation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages39

Reading Time1 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Research purpose and study focus

Research questions

Policy implications

education policy analysis archives A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal Arizona State University Volume 26 Number 76 July 2, 2018 ISSN 1068-2341 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education: Manufacturing“Edu-Preneur” Networks to Promote and Reinforce Privatization/Marketization in Education T. Jameson Brewer University of North Georgia Nicholas D. Hartlep Metropolitan State University & Ian Scott University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States Citation: Brewer, T. J., Hartlep, N. D., & Scott, I. (2018) . Forbes 30 under 30 in education: Manufacturing “edu-preneur” networks to promote and reinforce privatization/marketization in education. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 26(76). [http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.26.3563](http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.26.3563) Abstract: Each year Forbes bestows a handful of “edu-preneurs” with the 30 Under 30 Award in Education (Under30), designating those individuals as the best hope for revolutionizing andreforming education. Boasting low recipient rates, Forbes elevates the manufactured expertise of awardees and the importance of their organizations and ventures. Further, Forbes employs the language and norms of neoliberalism to articulate a pro-market vision of education reform. This social network analytic (SNA) study seeks to untangle the edu-preneur network and critically examine the connections between awardees, their organizations, judges, and the larger education reform network. To this end, we utilized descriptive analyses and SNA. We find evidence that Under30 serves as a mechanism for promoting social closure and ideological homophily within education reform networks. Further, we consider the policy implications that such awards may have on public discourse and policy creation. Keywords: Education Policy; Privatization; Marketization; Social Closure; Neoliberalism; Homophily; Echo Chamber; Edu-Preneur Forbes 30 menores de 30 más destacados en educación: Fabricando redes “edupreneur” para promover y reforzar la privatización/marketización en la educación Resumen: Cada año Forbes presenta una lista de “edu-prenuers” de los 30 más destacadosen educación (Under 30), designando a estos individuos como la mejor esperanza para revolucionar y reformar la educación. Con bajas tasas de recepción, Forbes eleva la experiencia fabricada de los premiados y la importancia de sus organizaciones yemprendimientos. Además, Forbes emplea el lenguaje y las normas del neoliberalismo para articular una visión pro-mercado de la reforma educativa. Este estudio de red social analítica (SNA) busca desentrañar la red edu-preneur y examinar críticamente las conexiones entre los premiados, sus organizaciones, jueces y la mayor red de reforma de laeducación. Para ello, se utilizaron análisis descriptivos y SNA. Encontramos evidencias de que el sub-30 sirve como un mecanismo para promover el cierre social y la homofiliaideológica en las redes de reforma de la educación. Además, consideramos las implicaciones políticas que tales premios pueden tener en el discurso público y en lacreación de políticas. Palabras clave: Política de Educación; la privatización; marketización; Cierre Social; neoliberalismo; homophily; Cámara de Eco; Edu-Preneur Forbes 30 under 30 em educação: Fabricando redes “edu-preneur” para promover ereforçar a privatização/marketização na educação Resumo: Todos os anos a Forbes concede um punhado de “educandos” com o 30 Under 30 Award em Educação (Under 30), designando esses indivíduos como a melhor esperança para revolucionar e reformar a educação. Com baixas taxas de recebimento, a Forbes eleva a expertise fabricada dos premiados e a importância de suas organizações eempreendimentos. Além disso, a Forbes emprega a linguagem e as normas do neoliberalismo para articular uma visão pró-mercado da reforma educacional. Este estudode rede social analítica (SNA) procura desvendar a rede edu-preneur e examinar criticamente as conexões

FAQs

What is the aim of the social network analytic study?

To understand the Forbes 30 Under 30 Award in Education (Under30) and examine how the award’s network shapes “social closure” and “echo chambers” in educational policy.

What research questions does the study address?

It asks about the academic backgrounds and demographics of Under30 recipients, the backgrounds of judges, and the extent to which recipients are connected to judges and to each other via individual and organizational ties.

What does the study find about Under30’s role in education reform networks?

Under30 is shown to promote social closure and ideological homophily within education reform networks, while reinforcing a pro-market reform vision using neoliberal language and norms.

Oct 15, 2026

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