Governor Jeb Bush, the Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, has an important editorial up at National Review arguing that we need serious reform and higher standards if we are to raise student achievement in America.
While this article primarily pushes back against myths being perpetuated by opponents of higher standards and the Common Core, as well as trying to pry Washington’s fingers off of state-led initiatives, it is a more holistic vision of what needs to be done in our nations classrooms.
Toward a Better Education System is an important reminder that there are no miracle drugs or quick fixes in the fight to improve the education system, only a comprehensive set of patient and continuing reform measures. In that ecosystem of reform, digital learning plays a key role in empowering teachers and personalizing learning for students.
Bush writes,
Technology can increase the efficiency of education just as it has increased the efficiency of every other aspect of our lives. Digital learning should be an option for students. In fact, options across the board — charter schools, home schools, vouchers, and tax-credit scholarships — allow parents to shop for a school that best meets their child’s needs.
As we will see this fall with the Louisiana Course Choice program, over 3,400 students will have the freedom to take over 90 courses from 21 different providers. This is an exciting time for public, private and non-profit partners in education and highlights the power of a well-organized and carefully curated educational market. Other states are looking to follow the example of Louisiana, and course access looks to be an important trend and development in the future of the digital learning universe.
Choice in education is only an important development so far as it keeps students at the center of the growth. The reason our education system needs transformation is ultimately to help provide every student with the ability to achieve their God-given potential and the promise of our great country.
If we don’t completely transform education, we are defaulting on the American dream.
America was founded on the principle that every American has the right to rise according to his or her abilities and hard work. Anyone can accomplish anything in America. It is why poor parents sacrifice to send their children to college. It is why people work long hours, start businesses, and take risks. The promise of economic mobility fuels innovation and entrepreneurship.