A MISSION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION: To give every child the best educational opportunities possible by securing policies that allow 1) parents to choose the educational options that best meet the needs of their children, and 2) public education dollars to follow those students.
WHAT DOES EXCELLENT PUBLIC EDUCATION LOOK LIKE?
Think for a moment about "public education." Chances are you’re thinking of your neighborhood public schools, some teachers or administrators you know, a parent who is involved in PTA activities, and maybe the latest ideas being thrown around by talking heads on television. Think a little more. Let yourself imagine. What if public education was more than that? What if it was defined not by a specific bureaucracy, but by a mission? What if that mission was simple (a well-educated public) and the means for achieving it were not limited to one type of school, but were as diverse as the students it served? Bureaucratic education uses zip codes to assign children to schools. It expects all children to learn at the same pace under the same instructional methods. It pays teachers the same amount of money, regardless of how well they do their jobs. It stifles creativity and innovation with burdensome rules and regulations. It requires years to respond to the changing dynamics of a global marketplace. Mission-focused education offers a wide range of educational options to best serve the unique needs and talents of students. It accommodates different learning styles. It pays excellent teachers well and encourages poor teachers to find more suitable careers. It facilitates creativity and innovation by combining authority with accountability. It responds quickly to the changing dynamics of a global marketplace. Bureaucratic education cripples students. Mission-focused education makes it possible for them to achieve their highest potential. Sadly, our current public education system is bureaucratic rather than mission-focused. It must change. On this website, you will learn about the education crisis facing our nation. You will learn about the basic terms, philosophies, documents and resources that define education in our country. You will find the latest research and commentary addressing the many issues in education. You will hear from and read the stories of individuals who are succeeding where too many fail. And, hopefully, you will be equipped and inspired to get involved in meaningful change.