Reflections on a Half-Century of School Reform: WHY HAVE WE FALLEN SHORT AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

By Jack Jennings, President and CEO, Center on Education Policy

smf notes: If there’s a role for the Federal Government in Public Education this paper describes what it could and should be. Maybe must be.

This is long+thoughtful.  The road ahead is longer still and requires much additional thought.

 

Conclusion We have a choice. We can talk for another 50 years about making the schools better, and succeed for some.We can adopt piecemeal approaches that have some effect. But if we want broad, major improvement for our nation’s schools, we have to act boldly, not just talk or try partial fixes. This year of presidential and congressional elections provides us with the occasion to discuss making equal educational opportunity available to every child. After all the debate is done, we should recognize that action speaks louder than words and enact legislation to affirm that every American child has a right to a good education.

Reflections on a Half-Century of School Reform