Education reform seeks to improve students’ educational outcomes by changing how schools are managed and taught. Many different motivations drive education reform, from establishing cultural literacy to promoting national unity and competing in the global marketplace. Increasingly, education is seen as a way to address socio-economic problems such as health and wealth inequality.
Educators, policymakers and subject matter experts work together to develop curriculum standards that are relevant and challenging for all students. Oftentimes, these standards are aligned with assessment instruments so that teachers can gauge students’ progress. The best systems balance accountability with a commitment to support educators and school leaders. High-stakes tests can be demoralizing, so effective accountability systems avoid punishing educators and schools and instead provide targeted support and resources to help them improve student performance.
In the United States, a growing number of schools have shifted to a student-centered approach where educators are empowered to make their own decisions about what is important to teach. They may focus on developing students’ critical thinking skills or using project-based learning. These initiatives are in response to an increasingly competitive job market that requires students to have a wide range of skills. In addition, the rising number of students who are choosing not to pursue a college degree requires educators to prepare them for alternative career paths.
Across the world, high-performing systems tend to spend less on administration and sports and more on classroom materials, teaching staff, and professional development opportunities. They also tend to have fairly even spending levels and mechanisms to allocate resources toward disadvantaged students.