This four-part video series explores different aspects of our education system, giving a basic understanding of how we can improve our schools and provide every child in America with a safe and effective education.

Education Unions: Made Simple

The power and influence of education unions has a significant effect on schools today, but is that good for American students?

Facts

Today, teachers in 28 states can lose their jobs if they refuse to join an education union or pay education union dues. Read More

Education unions can use their members' dues to contribute to political organizations or causes, many of which oppose common-sense changes that are needed to improve American education in the long run. Read More

"It is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children. And it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. [Education Unions] are effective advocates, because we have power." –Bob Chanin, former General Counsel, National Education Association. Read More

In Washington, D.C. education unions used their power and influence to make D. C. Public Schools re-hire more than 75 teachers who were laid off two years prior when their principals deemed them "ineffective educators." In addition to returning these educators to the school system, the district was also ordered to pay them two years in back wages, costing taxpayers in the nation's capital approximately $7.5 million. Read More

Education Spending: Made Simple

Does spending more and more money on education programs improve the quality of education? The answer might surprise you!

Facts

Many people believe that the lack of funding in our schools is a problem in public education, even though spending on public schools is at an all-time high. Despite a near tripling of federal education spending since the 1960's, academic achievement has not improved, graduation rates have stagnated, and the achievement gap stubbornly persists. Read More

Even though we are spending more money on education than ever before, graduation rates are the same today that they were in the 1970's. Read More

Public education spending per pupil is broadly similar across racial and ethnic groups and there is little evidence that increasing public education spending will close the achievement gap. Read More

Department of Education funding has increased nearly fivefold in the last 30 years. Yet educational outcomes have not improved. Sadly, the only thing that has increased is the number of bureaucrats working in Washington. Read More

Washington's Role in Education: Made Simple

Trying to understand the federal government's role in education is a bit complicated. Here's an easy way to look at it.

Facts

Ever-increasing federal education spending and involvement have encouraged state and local school districts to orient their focus to the demands of Washington, instead of responding first to students, parents, and taxpayers. Read More

The Constitution does not provide a role for the federal government in education. Washington's intervention has led to more spending on unnecessary programs and has undermined schools' accountability to the people they are supposed to serve, local parents, students, and taxpayers. Read More

Washington's overreach into local schools could soon grow exponentially if national education standards and tests are implemented. National standards would strengthen federal power over education while weakening schools' direct accountability to parents and taxpayers. Centralized standard-setting will likely result in the standardization of mediocrity rather than establishing standards of excellence. Read More

The people closest to the schools know what is best for students. States should be allowed to opt out of the many federal education programs under No Child Left Behind and direct federal education dollar to the states' most pressing needs. Read More

School Choice: Made Simple

See how school choice allows parents to choose the education options that best meet their child's needs.

Facts

Across the country, school choice programs have improved the educational opportunities for students. One example of this is in our nation's capital. Students who receive D.C. Opportunity Scholarships have significantly higher graduation rates than children who did not receive a voucher. Parents of scholarship recipients are also more satisfied with the safety and quality of their child's school. Read More

School choice is a key component in improving educational outcomes. In Florida, school choice is an integral part of the reform model, which has led to a narrowing of the achievement gap between white students and their black and Hispanic peers. Thanks to parental choice and other reforms, Florida's Hispanic students are now outperforming or tied with the reading average for all students in 31 other states. Read More

2011 was a milestone year for school choice, setting the bar high for state legislatures across the country to increase families' educational options. What began with a crucial re-authorization of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program continued with 12 states creating or expanding school choice options. Read More

School choice in the form of virtual or online learning is revolutionizing American education. It has the potential to dramatically expand the educational opportunities of students regardless of where they live. Read More