How Can We Improve Our Schools?

Education in America is nearly a trillion-dollar issue for K-12 alone. There are plenty of discussions to be had about ways to improve the quality of our school systems, from school choice to standardized testing.

But today, let’s focus on the people in positions of power, particularly the school boards, the schools of education in universities, and higher education accreditors.

Here are four areas for reform that states can embrace to improve education within their borders.

Make school board elections more transparent and accountable

School boards have a lot of power and control over curriculum, instruction policies, and teacher compensation. More than 96 percent of school board members are elected. Despite this, these elections lack transparency and primarily benefit special interests over students. States can make school board elections more transparent and accountable by:

#1: Moving elections to major statewide election times.

In 37 states, school board elections are held “off cycle,” meaning they are held at a different time than most major statewide elections. Because they are at a different time, turnout is significantly lower. Advocates for off-cycle school board elections like to say it’s to allow for a “better informed” electorate to decide education policy—which is condescending public relations code for unions and other special-interest groups. Moving elections to “on cycle” would allow for the full community to have a say in the makeup of the school board. It’s a reform supported by 80 percent of likely voters polled by the Center for Excellence in Polling.

#2: Imposing term limits for school board members, and #3: Eliminating staggered terms for school board members.

If voters want significant changes in their school boards, school board members shouldn’t be allowed to protect their personal interests with staggered terms and no term limits. Removing these barriers will better allow for the democratic process to work and for real changes to be implemented when needed.

#4: Requiring school board members to declare their party affiliation.

Often, school board candidates are non-partisan, but that doesn’t mean the candidates aren’t political. School boards are political by nature. Political affiliation is an important signal to voters—hiding partisan views prevents voters from selecting candidates who best reflect their values. As FGA research found, North Carolina is a perfect example of the importance of listing party affiliation in school board elections, as the state has some districts that hold partisan elections and some that do not. Without parties listed, voters bypassed voting for school boards or simply picked the first name they saw or recognized, and school boards were often far more left-leaning than the community they were serving.

Expand opportunities for students and parents

Fifteen states have implemented Students’ Right to Know laws, which require information to be provided to prospective students, such as how many students in each degree program have full-time employment or are enrolled in post-graduate education, average wages for graduates of each degree program at different levels of education, and average student debt. Most new jobs in America don’t require a college degree, and it’s time to stop telling students and parents that the only pathway to success is a four-year degree. The information available to students from Students’ Right to Know laws is invaluable as young adults make decisions about their futures—and their potential debt.

End the college accreditation monopoly

Accreditation was intended to be an independent, peer-review system to ensure quality in colleges and universities. Since the passing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, higher education institutions are now required to receive accreditation in order to receive federal funding. This has created a perverse incentive for higher education that has led to skyrocketing tuition costs, lowering standards in education and graduation rates, and the imposition of a political agenda on students and staff alike.

Florida passed a new law in 2022 that is attempting to bust up this monopoly by requiring its public universities to seek accreditation from a different accreditor each cycle. It’s an important step toward lower costs, higher standards, and results that Americans so desperately want back in their higher education. North Carolina and West Virginia have also considered legislation to do the same—other states should add to the pressure and follow suit.

Allow for alternative teacher certification methods

Most teachers receive certification through schools of education, which tend to lean left and train prospective teachers with their radical ideologies and activist approach to education. Montana provides a great example of how to break the certification monopoly. Montana, like many states, faces a serious lack of teachers—especially in rural areas—due to teachers leaving the profession or moving out of state. But now in Big Sky Country, public K-12 teachers can earn their certification based on relevant subject matter expertise or work experience. This opens the teacher-talent pipeline, makes it easier for rural areas to attract talent, and frees teachers—and the next generation—from the Left’s stranglehold on public education. This innovative approach can and should be replicated in other states.