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: Urban Law Journal

Education Reform: Senator John McCain

By 3L at Seton Hall University School of Law and Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.

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Senator John McCain's plan to reform American education focuses on "excellence, choice, and competition." The Senator advocates the right of parents to place their children in any school "of demonstrated excellence, including their own homes." He believes schools should compete for "the most effective teachers" and "reward them." Mr. McCain promises to "address the underlying cultural problems" in public education. He also calls attention to NCLB, though it's not clear if he is doing so with approval.

The Senator recognizes the need to "seek and find solutions," but his website paints with broad strokes the problems and proposed solutions. For example, the Senator "believes all federal financial support must be predicated on" empowering parental choice. But what does this mean in terms of specific policy proposals? He cites the need for schools to be "innovative, flexible and student-centered," his plan to achieve this is based solely on promoting school choice. While school choice is likely a critical element in achieving those goals, the entrenched bureaucracy surrounding public schooling would likely require more than "competition" from charter schools if they are to fundamentally rethink and improve the way children are educated. How will the Senator "address the underlying cultural problem in our education system"? In the end, I left his page with more questions than answers.

Full post as published by Urban Law Journal on January 29, 2008 (boomark / email).

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