The term education reform refers to a series of broad-ranging initiatives that aim to improve a nation’s educational systems by changing the curriculum, teaching methods and school standards. Education reform movements have sprung up in response to a wide range of social and economic shifts over the centuries, reflecting a range of political and ideological perspectives on the role of education in society.
One major theme running through education reform has been the use of standardization and accountability to drive improvements. The goal is to set a clear standard and hold schools, teachers and students to it. Traditionally, this has meant using testing to determine whether students are meeting educational expectations. But it also involves a wide range of other factors including teacher development, parental involvement and school choice.
Over the past few decades, a dominant school of thought has been “standards-based reform.” It has focused on setting clear academic standards and using test scores to evaluate performance. Supporters of this approach argue that it holds educators accountable for their students’ progress, while giving parents and communities a meaningful way to choose schools.
This approach has been widely adopted across the country. It is the core of the No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law by George W. Bush, and its reauthorization under President Obama in 2015.
Proponents of standards-based reform have also argued that top-down accountability can help to counteract the power of school unions and other actors who tend to steer resources toward affluent schools and their students. By establishing high expectations and strong tests, they believe, these policies can redirect money and teachers to the most underserved students.
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