Public Education Reform

K-12 public education is in desperate need of reform. The current system is obsolete and fails to effectively educate the majority of students. A complete transformation is necessary.

Public policy is needed to redesign education from:

  • Adult-focused to student-focused
  • Input-focused to output-focused
  • Teaching-focused to learning-focused
  • Group-focused to individual-focused
  • Time-focused to competency-focused

Since state governments largely control public education funding and most of the major related aspects of K-12, we propose that change must happen at the state level to be most transformational and sustainable.

The Strategy

Donald P. Nielsen, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and Chairman of the American Center for Transforming Education, outlines the strategy in his book Every School: One Citizen’s Guide to Transforming Education.

Fundamental transformation of public schools will not happen overnight. A multi-year strategy in two phases is proposed to achieve lasting change and positive results for students.

Phase One

Identify Reform-Minded States. Our early research efforts are focused on identifying states that are positioned for change and equipped with courageous state leaders who are willing to buck the education establishment in favor of meaningful reforms.

Promote Choice Legislation. The formal education of the child, which is probably one of the most important aspects of raising a child, is not currently a parental choice. We promote and support school choice legislation in all its forms — vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, education savings accounts, and charter schools.

Pass Innovation Districts Legislation. We support passing legislation that will grant greater flexibility for administrators to enact change within their schools. By allowing public school districts to apply for waivers that grant flexibility for school administrators, we empower school administrators to implement innovative solutions to problems that they witness in their classrooms.

Pass Leadership Institute Legislation. We propose the creation of leadership institutes that train educational entrepreneurs to be agents of change within their schools, and to oversee innovation districts.

Phase Two

Appointed School Board Legislation. Change is a difficult, long-term process that is continually impeded by school board elections. Appointed school boards will provide the stability of governance that is critical to implementing lasting, far-sighted reforms.

Modifying Certification Laws. The education profession should be open to our brightest and most talented citizens. By removing barriers that prevent issue experts from becoming teachers, we can hire teachers based on qualifications — not just their certification.

School Funding Legislation. The current funding system greatly constrains innovation by heavily restricting how school districts can spend their money. We believe that education funding should follow the child, and be based on the cost to educate that child — making school funding a function of both the number and the needs of children who are being educated.

Teacher Compensation Legislation. By eliminating the salary schedule, schools will be able to hire and pay teachers based on school needs, market conditions, and budget allowances — ultimately attracting higher quality teachers. This allows high-demand teachers, like math and science teachers, to be paid more.

Graduation Requirements Legislation. Currently, high school credit hours measure how much time a student spends in a seat. Instead, states should redefine graduation standards and requirements to reflect material learned and college readiness.

Q&A with Donald Nielsen


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The Book

Every School

How would an entrepreneur reform education? In this newly revised and updated version of Every School (2019), Don Nielsen draws on his business career and twenty-five years as a school reformer, to offer innovative solutions to the educational challenges facing our country.

Donald Nielsen

Senior Fellow and Chairman, American Center for Transforming Education
Donald P. Nielsen is a Senior Fellow of Discovery Institute and Chairman of the Institute's program on public education reform. For nearly 30 years, he has devoted his life work to transforming public education. For two years, he traveled the country studying America's public education system and authored, Every School: One Citizen’s Guide to Transforming Education. Mr. Nielsen was awarded the Harvard Business School's 2004 Alumni Achievement Award. In 2009, he received the Leadership Award from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.