Bridging the Divide Through Education Reform
Today, the divide between Republicans and Democrats can feel insurmountable. Yet, there’s a potential common ground: education reform. This issue has a history of bipartisan appeal, which may be crucial as tensions rise this year over federal funding and layoffs in the Department of Education. It’s hard to envision significant policy advancements in such an environment.
However, consider the collective support for a robust agenda aimed at enhancing schools and universities. It’s essential for the nation to prioritize delivering quality education to preschoolers and to ensure that students are advancing toward diplomas and degrees. Schools and universities should be open to public scrutiny and should adhere to accountability standards regarding their outcomes.
Editors from the Washington Post note that universities must take decisive steps to foster a free exchange of ideas.
Let’s be honest: this exchange is often lacking.
A recent federal assessment, the Federal Report Card, revealed alarming statistics—40% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders were below basic reading standards in 2024. What’s disheartening is that these scores had already been on a downward trend even before the pandemic.
Higher education isn’t doing any better either. Data indicates that only 61% of full-time students at four-year universities during the 2014-2015 academic year managed to earn their degrees within eight years. The numbers were even lower for part-time students. Some students transfer and graduate elsewhere, but many drop out without earning any qualifications.
Former President Trump signed an executive order addressing multiple education issues, including artificial intelligence and school discipline.
Addressing these challenges can yield political benefits. History backs this up.
One of us served as Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush, while the other held a senior role in education under President Barack Obama. Both leaders pushed for school reform, initiated the University Scorecard, and helped families make informed decisions about higher education.
Both Bush and Obama aimed to unite various parties for education reform. While not always successful, they recognized that parents and taxpayers demanded accountability from schools and viewed access to a quality education as a fundamental right.
This bipartisan effort has not only brought people together but also yielded results. Following the implementation of “No Child Left Behind,” reading scores among students aged 9, 13, and 17 improved for the first time in decades, reaching historic highs between 2008 and 2012.
Educators are now hopeful that current literacy challenges will be addressed, especially as discussions around diversity and gender ideologies gain traction.
Despite the increasingly polarized political climate, education remains a critical issue. A serious focus on these matters could be beneficial for both parties.
Effective leadership from both Washington and state capitals is crucial. This includes commitment to educational ideals, pursuing ambitious goals, and ensuring accountability through careful tracking of progress. Adequate funding is vital, especially for working-class families. We should also honor the efforts of teachers and faculty who genuinely make a difference. Ultimately, collaboration across party lines is essential.
The Bipartisan Policy Center recently launched a committee to focus on American workers, co-chaired by former Republican Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee and former Democratic Governor of Massachusetts.
This initiative aims to gather input from all political arenas, promoting economic opportunities and strategies to keep the nation competitive.
In particular, one working group centers on primary and secondary education, discussing student performance assessments and high school reforms, while another group contemplates ways to enhance higher education and alternative pathways for student success.
Some senators have even proposed legislation aimed at dissolving the Department of Education.
The American Council on Education, representing various higher education institutions, is eager to emphasize innovation and accountability. Recently, it introduced a new classification system that recognizes 479 institutions as models for student success, emphasizing their role in providing access and pathways to degrees and competitive wages.
For the first time, a system acknowledges these “universities and colleges of opportunity,” ranging from community colleges to research universities.
This classification may shine a light on the way forward for those who believe higher education should demonstrate its value and rebuild public confidence.
These actions are necessary steps towards laying a strong foundation for bipartisan reform. Goals must include enhancing graduation rates, ensuring price transparency, and supporting students, all while embracing diverse political perspectives.
We urge both parties, including President Trump, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Congress, and national leaders, to harness the bipartisan potential in education policy.
More than four decades ago, the Reagan administration assembled experts who produced the groundbreaking report “A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform.” Since then, we’ve made strides, but we’ve also seen setbacks. Now is the time for our leaders to recommit to this vital cause. Students, parents, and taxpayers all desire a return on their educational investments. The future of America depends on a new wave of education reform.
