Education reform is the process of changing educational legislation, standards, methods, and policies to reflect the needs of society. It has been a part of our nation’s history for over 200 years. It is about how our schools can improve their services to students and help them be successful in a world that is constantly changing and evolving.
The first education reform movement was top down, characterized by thick books of state laws and district rules prescribing everything from academic requirements to classroom practices. It assumed that if teachers were forced to work harder, made to follow and dispense the “right” instructional prescriptions, and held accountable for standardized tests, students would learn. Unfortunately, this naive approach failed.
During this time, the idea that everyone deserves a good education was gaining popularity. This led to the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (later the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]) of 1975, requiring schools taking federal money to create truly individualized learning programs for children with disabilities.
A second major education reform began in the 1980s, focusing on the use of research and data to drive school change. This was a time when studies by economists like Eric Hanushek showed that spending on schools correlated with test score gains.
During this time, the AFT helped launch a grassroots movement to focus on the quality of teaching and learning and the need for equity. This movement reframed the education reform debate from one focused on equality to one that focused on equity for all students. It is a movement that continues to grow and has many AFT locals at the forefront of its work.