Many of the world’s highest performing education systems share a palpable conviction that education is central to achieving their vision for society-whether it be lifting people out of poverty, creating well-functioning multi-cultural societies, or building thriving economies with lots of jobs. The same vision drives leaders in high-income countries to support public education, even when that means spending less on other programs.
The most significant milestones in education reform include:
Compulsory Education Laws: Designed to ensure that children receive the education they deserve, compulsory education laws increased literacy rates and promoted the belief that all children should have access to schooling.
Progressive Education: A movement led by educator and philosopher John Dewey that promotes experiential learning and emphasizes critical thinking over rote memorization.
Standards-Based Education: A policy approach that prioritizes clear, higher standards and uses quantitative instruments to assess student progress. This approach was popular in the United States as part of the Race to the Top program, and is being pushed by the Trump Administration.
A second reform movement is currently underway that aims to make schools responsive to the needs of students and their families. It advocates for public schools to prioritize real-world readiness and support students in discovering diverse pathways to success after high school. It also seeks to expand educational options for families including charter schools, voucher programs and magnet schools. This movement is supported by a broad coalition of groups including AFT locals. Nonprofits play key roles in education reform by funding pilot programs, conducting research and advocacy for policies that will benefit students and educators.