Our children are our future. Education is at the heart at developing their skills and abilities and yet year after year we hear about the degrading state of our educational system. Our nation has spent trillions of dollars on failed programs that research and experts had promised would work. Achievement gaps persist, performance declines are accelerating and so it is of paramount importance that we explore novel ideas and solutions. You might not agree with many or any of the ideas below, and we certainly are not endorsing policies – our hope is just to create a space where bright, dedicated folks from the community can share their ideas – so that we can all come together and better understand each others experiences, concerns and how we might move forward together to build a brighter future.

Stacy McClanahan

Certainly the cost! We need to prioritize that our elected leaders make education in general accessible and affordable. I’ve seen some propaganda on social media circulating about educated artists being considered “ elitists” and implying that somehow having a degree is a reflection of snobbery. Read more>>

Angelique Herring

It really gets under my skin when people reflect on their time in school and see it as this huge hurdle they had to overcome. That, I think, is a failure of the school system. Learning doesn’t have to feel like that. Read more>>

Freddie Woods Wilson

Mrs. Freddie Wilson worked in the school system from 1992 to 2009 as an everyday substitute teacher and educational aide/teacher assistant. Read more>>

Archana Balkrishna Yadav

To prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career, changes to the education system should focus on fostering a holistic approach to learning. Read more>>

Nakiea Alexander

I volunteer in the state of NJ for the detention center for underage youth. If I could change the education system, I would start putting an emphasis on mindset & trauma at a VERY early age. Read more>>

JJ Trinidad

In the aerial film industry to become a drone cinematographer will need to pass the FAA part 107 examination to qualify to be a professional drone operator which has very little knowledge of actually operating a drone in a professional and safe environment. Read more>>

Jasmine Kelly

I would first start with middle school aged kids. I would do things to stimulate their minds and get them focused on their future! For example, start by conducting personality tests in the 6th-7th grade so they can begin to put a name and direction to their interests. Read more>>

Steven Havens

There are many things that American education systems do very well. However, providing financial literacy has not historically been one of these things. Read more>>

Domonique Cooper

I believe our education system needs to integrate more practical theory and practice by increasing internships for high school students, incorporating more career-based discussions in elementary and middle school, and providing more opportunities for career and post-high school exploration alongside academic development. Read more>>

Ben Spievak

The education system is a pipeline into factories. For creative and ambitious people, it’s a limiting environment. When I was attending undergrad at UCLA, I found myself skipping most of my classes to spend time in the gym and library, where I self-educated through books and YouTube, and built an online fitness coaching business.  Read more>>

Anshul Roy

Growing up in India, I was extensively shaped by the Indian education system, and my recent years in the USA have been a process of deconditioning my mind. Read more>>