Andrew Rotherham is co-founder and publisher of Education Sector, an independent national education policy think tank. Rotherham, who Washingtonian Magazine describes as being "at the forefront of U.S. education policy," has served in policymaking roles at the national and state level and helped to launch several education reform organizations. Rotherham writes a monthly column for U.S. News & World Report as well as the widely read blog Eduwonk.com, which an Education Week study found to be among the most influential sources of information in American education today.

In 1998, Rotherham launched the Progressive Policy Institute's 21st Century Schools Project, which he directed until 2005. Under his leadership, the project became a leading Washington D.C.-based education policy center. It developed public policy strategies to eliminate systemic inequities in American education and to redesign American public education into a system based on universal access to high-quality instruction, public sector choice and customization, common academic standards, and accountability for results. The project's ideas have been implemented in national and state education policy. Washington Post columnist David Broder cited one of the project's major policy proposals as "the clearest evidence of change" in the national education policy debate.

Rotherham previously served at The White House as Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy during the Clinton administration. He managed education policy activities at the White House and advised President Clinton on a wide range of education issues including the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, charter schools and public school choice, and increasing accountability in federal policy. Rotherham also led the White House Domestic Policy Council education team. In 2005 Governor Mark Warner appointed Rotherham to the Virginia Board of Education, a nine-member policymaking board overseeing the Commonwealth's public schools, a position he served in until 2009.

Rotherham is currently a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council, a member of the board of directors of the Indianapolis Mind Trust, Democrats for Education Reform, and the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. He also serves on advisory boards and committees for organizations and institutions including The Broad Foundation, Education Pioneers, The Harvard Graduate School of Education, The Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Governors Association, the National Charter School Research Project, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, and the Campaign for a U.S. Public Service Academy. Rotherham is also a member of the Aspen Institute-New Schools Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education 2008 Fellows class.

Rotherham has published more than 100 articles, book chapters, papers, and op-eds about education policy and politics. In addition to policy work Rotherham is a frequent commentator on education issues. The American School Board Journal says Rotherham is "one of Washington's leading commentators on education policy" and Doublethink calls him "the go-to guy for those looking for serious, cogent, analysis of the latest education trends." Rotherham is a commentator for National Public Radio and he has written for a wide-range of publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Education Week, The Washington Monthly, and The Times of London as well as academic and trade publications. In addition, Rotherham has authored or edited four influential books on education policy.

Rotherham, recently recognized as one of the "40 People Under 40 to Watch" by Washingtonian Magazine, was born and raised in Virginia and educated in Virginia's public schools and universities. A graduate of Virginia Tech he holds a master's degree from the University of Virginia and has completed his coursework for a doctorate in political science from the University of Virginia. Rotherham lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Julie, a consultant, and their two young daughters.