Uniting for Education Reform: A Bipartisan Approach to Enhance Learning in America

Uniting for Education Reform: A Bipartisan Approach to Enhance Learning in America

The landscape of American politics often appears fragmented, especially when examining recent partisan divisions. However, amidst these divisions lies a significant opportunity for cooperation in a domain that has historically garnered bipartisan support: education reform.

Recent years have seen a troubling rise in partisan battles surrounding education policy, driven by administrations from both sides of the aisle. The current climate of growing tensions has raised questions about the feasibility of reaching policy breakthroughs, especially amid alarming headlines related to cuts in federal funding and layoffs within the Department of Education.

Imagine the potential for unity if lawmakers could rally around a comprehensive agenda aimed at improving our educational institutions. The future of the nation depends on a collective commitment to providing quality education for every student, starting from preschool and extending through college. Ensuring that students make progress toward diplomas, degrees, and necessary credentials should remain a top priority. Schools and universities must strive for transparency and embrace accountability for their results.

Regrettably, educational institutions frequently fall short of these standards.

The most recent federal assessment known as the Nation’s Report Card revealed troubling statistics: 40% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders in 2024 did not meet the basic proficiency standards in reading. These scores have been declining for years, even before the pandemic. Such declines in educational performance are both tragic and unacceptable.

Higher education also faces daunting challenges. According to federal statistics, only 61% of full-time students who enrolled in a four-year college during the 2014-2015 academic year managed to earn a degree or credential within eight years. The situation is even more dire for part-time students, many of whom abandon their studies without any qualification. While some do manage to transfer and graduate at different institutions, a significant number leave college empty-handed.

Addressing these pressing issues can yield substantial political benefits, a lesson we have learned firsthand.

One of us served as Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush, who championed initiatives to close achievement gaps in reading and math to ensure that no child was left behind. The other held a senior education position under President Barack Obama, driving state-level reform measures and creating the College Scorecard to aid families in selecting colleges based on value.

Both Bush and Obama recognized the importance of forming bipartisan coalitions for educational reform. Although they did not always succeed, the policies they championed ignited fierce debates. They understood that parents and taxpayers demanded accountability from schools and colleges regarding educational outcomes. Moreover, both leaders viewed access to quality education as a fundamental civil right.

The collaborative efforts of these two administrations not only fostered dialogue, but they also yielded results. Following the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, average reading scores for students aged 9, 13, and 17 increased for the first time in decades, with the younger age groups achieving historic highs between 2008 and 2012.

Despite the heightened polarization in contemporary politics, the education challenges facing the nation today are no less significant. Addressing them may well benefit both political parties.

Achieving progress requires decisive leadership from both Washington and state capitals. It demands a steadfast belief in the mission of education, a readiness to establish ambitious objectives, and a firm commitment to tracking measurable outcomes. Robust funding is essential to support students from working-class backgrounds. Honoring the contributions of schoolteachers and college faculty who positively impact student lives is equally important. Lastly, fostering bipartisan cooperation remains crucial.

The Bipartisan Policy Center has recently launched the Commission on the American Workforce, co-chaired by former Republican Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee and former Democratic Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. This initiative seeks to gather diverse perspectives across the political spectrum to devise strategies for expanding economic opportunity and ensuring national competitiveness.

One of the working groups within this commission will concentrate on elementary and secondary education, with a focus on assessing student performance, reforming high schools, and enhancing teacher recruitment and training. Another group will evaluate policies that improve higher education and alternative pathways that prepare students for future success.

The American Council on Education represents a wide range of colleges and universities and is actively committed to promoting innovation and accountability in education. In collaboration with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, they have announced a new classification system for colleges and universities, designed to assess how effectively institutions provide students access to degrees and pathways to competitive wages.

For the first time, this Carnegie Classifications system has identified 479 institutions as potential models of student success, referred to as Opportunity Colleges and Universities.

This diverse cohort encompasses a variety of institutions, including both large research universities and smaller community colleges. Their recognition could serve as a guiding light for those who believe that higher education must enhance its value and restore public trust.

These actions are essential to laying the groundwork for meaningful bipartisan reform, which requires an emphasis on raising graduation rates, managing costs, ensuring price transparency, and creating support systems for transfer students. It is also vital that campuses cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse political perspectives.

We encourage both Republicans and Democrats, alongside President Trump, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and legislators at all levels, to acknowledge the power of bipartisanship in educational policy. Both parties have historically leveraged this approach to advance meaningful change.

Over 40 years ago, the Reagan administration assembled experts who produced the transformative report titled A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. Since that time, the nation has experienced both progress and setbacks in education. The moment has arrived for our leaders to recommit to this essential cause, as students, parents, taxpayers, and voters expect the investments made in schools and colleges to yield tangible returns. The future of America demands a renewed focus on education reform.

Ted Mitchell served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Education from 2014 to 2017 and is currently the president of the American Council on Education.