Education

Why Scrimping on education spending costs us more

A high-quality education lays the foundation for a thriving society: successful individuals, an informed and engaged populace, strong civic and cultural institutions, vital economic growth, and financial security.

Yet many American children enter the primary school system unprepared to learn, and statistics prove that the American public education system is far below average when compared to those of other industrialized nations.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure students beginning public school are prepared to learn. We must enable and support their drive for academic achievement. And we must provide universal education of the highest quality, affording all American children the opportunity to succeed and compete in the global marketplace.

Featured Publications

Pay It Forward: Refinancing Higher Education to Restore the American Dream

10.26.2012 | Growing numbers of Washington’s high school graduates are losing their shot at the American Dream, as the long-term decline in state funding for higher education pushes tuition costs out of reach for middle-class families. It is time to radically rethink how Washington state finances its public colleges and universities.

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The Finnish education model: Highlights, resources and research

11.30.2012 | Finnish students are among the best in the world. Their success has come through a system that would seem unorthodox here in the U.S.: no standardized testing, no private schools, fewer hours in school, teacher autonomy, full national funding, and equality in education, among other things. This document highlights some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Finnish system, in hopes of catalyzing further conversation.