Description
Book SynopsisApril 2015 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the landmark legislation that has provided the foundation of federal education policy in the United States. In
Presidents, Congress, and the Public Schools, longtime policy analyst Jack Jennings examines the evolution of federal education policy and outlines a bold and controversial vision for its future.
Jennings brings an insider’s knowledge to this account, off ering a vivid analysis of federal efforts in the education arena and revealing some of the factors that shaped their enactment. His rich descriptions and lively anecdotes provide pointed lessons about the partisan climate that stymies much federal policy making today. After assessing the impact of Title I and NCLB, and exploring the variety of ways that the federal government has intervened in education, Jennings sets forth an ambitious agenda for reframing education as a federal civil right and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn.
Table of ContentsCONTENTS
Foreward by Michael Feuer ix
Introduction 1
PART 1 EQUITY AND THE ORIGINS OF ESEA
CHAPTER 1
The Road to ESEA 15
CHAPTER 2
The Evolution of Title I, 1965-1978 29
CHAPTER 3
Regulatory Burdens Lead to Change, 1978-2015 43
CHAPTER 4
Was Title I Effective? 55
PART II STANDARDS, TESTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
CHAPTER 5
Standards, Testing, and Accountability Under Four Presidents 65
CHAPTER 6
Has the Standards, Testing, and Accountability Movement Been Effective? 81
PART III OTHER FEDERAL POLICIES, AND A SUMMARY
CHAPTER 7
IDEA and Bilingual Education 105
CHAPTER 8
School Busing, Title IX, and Free Speech in Schools 119
CHAPTER 9
Lessons Learned from Federal Involvement in Schooling 141
PART IV FRESH THINKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION
CHAPTER 10
The Greatest Problems in Schooling 159
CHAPTER 11
Federal Aid to Improve Teaching and Learning 185
CHAPTER 12
Constitutional and Legal Guarantees of a Good Education 205
Conclusion 219
Appendix: Chronology of Major Events, 1948-2013 223
Notes 227
Acknowledgments 241
About the Author 243
Index 245
