Education Issues Primer

This primer on educational issues was written with the recognition that the debate about public good versus the marketplace continues to dominate the discussion about the future of American public education. The primary purpose of the paper is to provide the reader with an overview of the research literature, so that in the ongoing debate about public education and educational reforms, the discussion can move beyond ideology and political expediency.

Introduction

Attitudes and Perceptions

Empirical Evidence on Achievement

Variables Affecting Student Achievement

Lingering Problems

Strategies for Improving the Schools

Concluding Remarks

References