Public education in the US has been the pathway to success and the engine for social mobility for many Americans. Indeed, in so many ways, it has been the bastion of our Democracy. In fact, despite its problems, public education in the US has been one of the world's most notable and successful experiments in mass education.

 

Today, American K-12 public education system is at risk, facing unprecedented, multiple internal challenges: chronic absence, low student achievement, teacher recruitment, and funding.

 

Michael Usdan will discuss not only these internal challenges but also will focus on how the schools recently have become embroiled in partisan political issues in unprecedented ways. He will also discuss how the macro partisan issues affecting schools (i.e., book banning, partisan school board elections, and sexuality concerns) currently reflect the polarization that so divides the entire nation. He will focus on the implications of issues such as the spread of school choice, the Trump's administration's efforts to reduce federal influence and to eliminate the Department of Education, and support for school choice in the "Big Beautiful Bill" recently passed.

 

This presentation will take place over Zoom. Please click here to join this important topic!

 

Meeting ID: 825 2473 9717

 

Passcode: 467930