Where Obama went wrong on education – and what Romney needs to say

Over the past fifty years, what have we learned about the nature of a smart, sensible federal role in K-12 schooling?

Normally, we expect to get thanked when giving a few bucks to a good cause. When it comes to K-12 schooling, though, folks giving away millions have been slammed for their trouble.

Are there limits to federal involvement in K-12 education? What can the government really do well to improve schooling? Should it be involved at all? In this presidential election year, these and other educational hot topics are examined in Carrots, Sticks, and the Bully Pulpit: Lessons From a Half-Century of Federal Efforts to Improve America’s Schools

Join us for a conversation with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Superintendent Shawn A. McCollough of Nogales Unified School District, who will discuss the challenge of improving cost-effectiveness in K-12 schooling.

If education philanthropists want to influence policy, then they must open themselves to more public debate about their  plans and goals.

Business can provide the leverage, expertise, and leadership that will help educators and public officials make tough decisions and take hard steps they may not take on their own.

If Baton Rouge intends to keep its "rock star" moniker, it needs schools that are producing talent and are attractive to corporate honchos. The Baton Rouge business community can play a key role in helping to ensure that EBR is doing just that. Here are a few lessons drawn from a hard look at locales where business is helping to lead the way on K-12 schooling.