Systemwide Education Reform

Federal Leadership Could Facilitate District-Level Efforts Gao ID: T-HRD-93-20 May 4, 1993

The 1980s saw a host of education reforms, most of which addressed individual parts of the system, such as merit pay for teachers, smaller class sizes, and increased academic requirements for graduation. Yet many educators and policymakers now believe that to improve student learning, the education system as a whole must be overhauled. These changes center on improving student outcomes by determining what students should know and be able to do and ensuring that all the key components of the educational system are linked to those outcomes. This testimony draws on an April 1993 GAO report (GAO/HRD-93-97) that examined four school districts with years of experience in implementing systemwide reform. In these districts, systemwide reform has been a long-term, ongoing process requiring substantial commitment and effort. Their experiences offer insights into the potential federal role in systemwide reform.



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