The Politics of Education Reform: Equity and Quality
Education reform has been one of the most politically charged issues in American life for decades. Democrats and Republicans may disagree about the role of government, teachers’ unions, school choice, testing, curriculum, and funding, but nearly everyone claims to want the same basic outcome: better schools and better opportunities for America’s children. The real challenge is that equity and quality are too often treated as competing goals . They should not be. A good education system must provide both. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of family income, ZIP code, disability, language, or community. At the same time, simply providing equal access to a classroom does not guarantee equal opportunity to succeed. The politics of education reform must therefore move beyond the question of whether we should pursue equity or excellence. The more important question is: How do we build an education system capable of delivering excellence equita...
