The Buying and Selling of American Education: Reimagining a System of Schools for All Children

American educators and policy makers have struggled to enhance equity and bring American student learning to the level experienced in other countries, leading to the standards movement and broad expansion of "school choice." This book traces the history of American education and examines persistent weaknesses in education today, offering a vision for reform based on the engagement of many sectors. A portfolio of diverse schools, regionally administered and held accountable for student learning, presents an option for moving away from inequitable district structures and scatter-shot "choice" options. The critical questions are how to get there from here and do we have the will to do so?

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

American educators and policy makers have expressed growing frustration in recent decades as efforts to enhance equity and improve student learning have fallen short compared to other countries. Recent initiatives, including the standards movement and widespread expansion of "school choice," have been based on market-based thinking, assuming that individual schools and teachers have the will and ability to improve if motivated by competition and incentives. However, these approaches overlook the flaws in a system designed to provide a "common" education while also perpetuating resource disparities that maintain privilege for some. This book traces the history of American education as a foundation for examining persistent weaknesses in education today. It argues that meaningful reform and improvement require broad, systemic change, involving the engagement of multiple sectors. By examining successful models in other countries, the book offers options for moving away from current systemic inequities and towards a more effective system that can better meet diverse educational needs. One potential solution is a portfolio of diverse schools, regionally administered and held accountable for student learning. This approach aims to address the shortcomings of district structures and scatter-shot "choice" options. However, the critical question remains: how can we achieve this transition from the current system? The book concludes with suggestions on how to initiate the process of transforming American education.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781607096412