Education The nature of education policy depends upon the level of government for which it is designed. While education policy on the national level has historically focused on incentive programs through grants, state and local education policies are designed to increase the overall level of opportunity among America's youth.

Policies within this sector:
Test Scores and Teacher Tenure proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City
Background:

In a joint appearance with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a targeted change to teacher tenure in New York City public schools. It was only one component in Bloomberg’s larger campaign to transform the city’s education system.

School Modernization and Revitalization Tax Credit (Smart Credit) proposed by Fmr. Gov. George Allen (R-VA) and Paul Goldman, former Chair of Virginia's Democratic Party
Background:

Two former political officials -- Gov. George Allen and Paul Goldman -- have united to propose a tax reform measure that would make private investment capital more available for school improvements. In light of reports indicating that the environment in which students learn is instrumental for their success, Allen and Goldman have centered their focus on modernizing America's school buildings.

D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (D.C. Voucher Program) proposed by Washington Scholarship Fund
Background:

In 2003, Congress established the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program as a pilot, publicly-funded school voucher program.  Its original five-year mandate was renewed in 2008 and is likely to be renewed again in 2009.  The D.C. program has been subject to yearly evaluations by the Institute for Education Studies.  Its relative success is likely to shape the future of the debate over school choice.

The Race to the Top Fund proposed by US Department of Education, Arne Duncan
Background:

The February 2009 economic stimulus included billions of dollars in grants for local education initiatives.  The Race to the Top fund is a $4.35 Billion program that awards grants to districts and states that propose innovative programs to improve student achievement, attract more qualified teachers and staff and promote a stronger overall academic environment.

US National Service Requirement (USNSR) proposed by Betsy Feuerstein, Northwestern University
Background:

Today’s youth has been labeled ‘Generation Q,’ the quiet generation.  They have been accused of apathy and civic agnosticism.  While their grandparents were drafted to serve and remain committed to civic ideals, today’s students lack the same sense of patriotism and national commitment.  Using the Israeli national service system as a model, a Northwestern University student proposes a United States National Service Requirement (USNSR).

Unleashing the Power of Innovation in Education proposed by Frederick Hess, American Enterprise Institute, and The Center for American Progress
Background:

The current system of public school regulations has limited the potential for educational entrepreneurs to experiment with new academic programs and techniques.  In a rare consensus, the Center for American Progress and the American Enterprise Institute propose a new regulatory framework that advances rather than inhibits the goals of educational innovators.

New York City Charter School Policy proposed by New York City Council
Background:

In 1998, the New York City Council passed the New York Charter Schools Act.  The Act created five-year renewable charters for private citizens, organizations or foundations to establish a New York public school as a 501 (c)3 organization.  Recent evidence demonstrates that the Act has successfully advanced entrepreneurship in public education.

"End the University As We Know It" proposed by Mark Taylor, Chairman, Columbia University Dept. of Religion
Background:

In lamenting the ever-increasing specialization of higher education in America (i.e. dissertations about the religious symbolism of 17th century antiques in southwest Ghana), Mark Taylor proposes a rather radical new framework for undergraduate and graduate studies in American colleges and universities.

Access and Completion Incentive Fund (ACIF) proposed by The White House Budget, The US Dept. of Education
Background:

The FY 2010 White House budget outlined a new set of national education objectives.  A primary goal -- captured in the ACIF -- is to increase post-secondary educational opportunities for those who do not attend four-year colleges or universities.  These types of programs, the White House argues, are necessary to develop the caliber of work-force that can occupy the next wave of American job opportunities.

Schools for Educational Evolution and Development (SEED) proposed by Eric Adler and Rajiv Vinnakota, The SEED Foundation
Background:

SEED is a public boarding school program that began with the charter school in Washington, DC.  Considering that a great deal of education policy is designed and implemented at the local level, it is constructive to look at the SEED school's policy as an instance of a larger education policy idea: public boarding schools.

Safe Routes to School proposed by U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Background:

Over the past few years, communities across the world have introduced programs for primary school students to walk to school.  American programs are coordinated through Safe Routes to School, which has prompted over 4,500 schools to create programs for students to walk or bike to and from school.

No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) proposed by U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education
Background:

Each year, Congress reorients the federal bounds for and regulations of the education system via amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Historically, federalism has relegated the specifics of education policy to the states. While the federal government offers funding through block education grants to the states, it refused to attach burdensome strings to these allotments. That is, before Congress and the Bush administration passed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 as an amendment to the initial Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

                         

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a bipartisan creation that brought George W. Bush together with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) behind the goal of implementing tougher, national standards to improve educational performance among low-income students.  NCLB carves out an unprecedentedly large role for the federal government in determining education policy.

Child Care and Development Block Grants (CCDBG) proposed by U.S. Congress
Background:

The United States Congress allots funding to states that subsidizes child-care within state childcare plans.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) proposed by U.S. Congress
Background:

TANF was passed in 1996 as the primary component of the Clinton Administration’s bipartisan welfare reform package.  State welfare programs provide cash subsidies to families with children.

Obama Early Childhood Education Plan proposed by Barack Obama for President
Background:

During his 2008 campaign for president, Barack Obama offered specific proposals for early childhood education as part of his larger education policy platform.

Head Start Program proposed by U.S. Congress
Background:

The Head Start Program was established in 1990 and falls under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.  It funds state and local education centers for young children.

Policies within this sector:
Test Scores and Teacher Tenure proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City
School Modernization and Revitalization Tax Credit (Smart Credit) proposed by Fmr. Gov. George Allen (R-VA) and Paul Goldman, former Chair of Virginia's Democratic Party
D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (D.C. Voucher Program) proposed by Washington Scholarship Fund
The Race to the Top Fund proposed by US Department of Education, Arne Duncan
US National Service Requirement (USNSR) proposed by Betsy Feuerstein, Northwestern University
Unleashing the Power of Innovation in Education proposed by Frederick Hess, American Enterprise Institute, and The Center for American Progress
New York City Charter School Policy proposed by New York City Council
"End the University As We Know It" proposed by Mark Taylor, Chairman, Columbia University Dept. of Religion
Access and Completion Incentive Fund (ACIF) proposed by The White House Budget, The US Dept. of Education
Schools for Educational Evolution and Development (SEED) proposed by Eric Adler and Rajiv Vinnakota, The SEED Foundation
Safe Routes to School proposed by U.S. Dept. of Transportation
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) proposed by U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education
Child Care and Development Block Grants (CCDBG) proposed by U.S. Congress
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) proposed by U.S. Congress
Obama Early Childhood Education Plan proposed by Barack Obama for President
Head Start Program proposed by U.S. Congress