The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation publishes content on education and related issues. Find and access current and archived items in our database.
We hear it every day: ‘The success or failure of our education system directly correlates to the success or failure of the U.S. economy.’ We know that learning and mastering essential skills, such as writing and mathematics, in K–12 and postsecondary schooling is crucial to landing a job and excelling in the workforce. Yet, it’s also known that American public schools are failing across the board.
Breaking the Monopoly of Mediocrity Aims to Rally Thought Leaders in Education, Government, and Business to Improve Education Across the Nation
This week, as leaders gather in New York City for the third annual Education Nation summit to talk about education solutions, out in the trenches, the battle continues over education basics. The first teachers' strike in 25 years in the Windy City garnered national headlines as union leaders fought to minimize school accountability. In a district where only one in nine African American students are meeting state standards in reading and math and only half graduate from high school, educators vigorously resisted measuring teacher effectiveness in the classroom and giving students more instructional time.
Sandra Westlund-Deenihan’s biggest work worry isn’t making payroll or increasing international sales of her metal float balls, valves and assemblies. It’s teaching her entry-level employees how to use a simple ruler. Westlund-Deenihan, president and design engineer of Illinois-based Quality Float Works, spoke during a roundtable discussion on the skills gap at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Competitive Workforce’s (ICW's) Help Wanted event on September 20. The event brought together business leaders, policy makers, and innovative education leaders to discuss what businesses can do to better align the nation’s workforce needs with higher education.
As someone who trained as a professional boxer, Overstock.com Chairman and CEO Patrick Byrne can certainly take some punches. He started his speech at the U.S. Chamber by noting that he is public enemy number one, according to the National Education Association. It’s a distinction that the outspoken supporter of school vouchers and education reform is quite proud of.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, hosted a forum today with business leaders, policymakers, and education innovators to discuss how to close our country’s ongoing skills gap crisis.
On August 12, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced it had finalized the application for the 2012 Race to the Top-District competition, which will provide nearly $400 million to support school districts in implementing local education reforms. According to the department: “The program sets a high bar to fund those districts that have a track record of success, clear vision for reform, and innovative plans to transform the learning environment and accelerate student achievement.”
Let's be honest with ourselves, education reform can seem a little "wonkish" at times. One of the toughest challenges for the education reform community is engaging the general public to take action. News stories riddled with policy jargon about teacher tenure, school choice, school governance, and student tracking aren't necessarily 'above the fold' headlines. However, cinema has the power to attract a broad audience and stir emotions that policy-laced news stories rarely reach.
In September, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will embark on his third annual “Back-to-School” Bus Tour to highlight education success around the country. However, based on the lackluster state of student achievement around the country, Secretary Duncan should address the following “failures” instead of “successes:”
Earlier this month, Margaret Spellings, president of the U.S. Chamber’s Forum for Policy Innovation joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the National Governors Association annual meeting to discuss the prospects for reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). There was much that the current and former secretary agreed upon – first and foremost, reauthorization is unlikely this year and if it is to happen next year, it will require the active participation of the governors. Both discussed the reality of where the debate currently lives in k-12 education—in state houses and school boards across the country.
