State & Federal Reform

The Center’s work is based on two premises: that public schools should be measured against the goal of educating all children well, and that current institutions too often fail to achieve this goal. Our research uses evidence from the field and lessons learned from other sectors to understand complicated problems and to design innovative and practical solutions for policymakers, elected officials, parents, educators, and community leaders.

The Center examines education reform efforts at the state and federal levels, and seeks a better understanding of the way federal and state governments can support educational innovation, accountability, and performance. Our current work explores how states can become more capable, especially in moving big city districts toward bold experimentation and rapid improvement.

State Role & Capacity

Despite the fact that states are constitutionally responsible for education, most reform initiatives virtually ignore them. This multi-year initiative reviews the current functions of state government in K-12 education. The initiative asks: what role could states play in a public school system built for innovation and constant improvement? Around what roles and missions could state governments be rebuilt, and what organizational capacities should state governments develop? How should these efforts be funded and governed?