Debate on National Standards

National standards have been considered a politically toxic idea since the Clinton administration's failed efforts to implement them due to strong opposition from both the left and the right.  But recent challenges implementing the No Child Left Behind Act have sparked new attention to and calls for national standards from a diverse group of voices across the policy spectrum.  There remain, however, significant political and substantive reasons to question the viability or advisability of this idea. 

This discussion featured:

Thomas Toch, Co-director, Education Sector

Kevin Carey, Research and Policy Manager, Education Sector (as moderator)

Michael Dannenberg, Director of Education Policy, The New America Foundation

Michael Greve, John G. Searle Scholar, American Enterprise Institute

Deborah Meier, Scholar and Adjunct Professor, Steinhard School of New York University

Michael Petrilli, Vice President for National Programs, The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation

Lauren Resnick, Director, Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh