Federal Education Reform: John Kline Lays Out the Next Steps

Rachel Sheffield / May 12, 2011

“A recent national survey revealed an overwhelming majority of American voters believe they aren’t getting their money’s worth from public schools,” writes Representative John Kline (R–MN), chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, yesterday in the Indianapolis Star. And with data showing that education spending has tripled in the last 30 years while student achievement has stagnated, it’s no wonder people are alarmed.

Yet, despite the long track record of failing to improve the nation’s schools, for the last 45 years the United States has continued to take the same approach to education policy: pouring more federal tax dollars into increasingly more federal programs. Since Lyndon Johnson first implemented the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—in its latest version known as No Child Left Behind—the federal government has increased bureaucracy and costs yet has nothing to show for improved academic achievement among students.

The United States must change course. And leaders are stepping up to make this happen. (more…)