The education reform movement: Its past, present, and future

Imagine a classroom where every child has equal access to quality education, tailored to their unique needs and potential. 

This is the vision for the education reform movement in the United States — an ongoing effort by society and the government to improve and reshape the K-12 education system. Members of the movement tackle a range of critical education issues from access to equity, quality, and the evolving needs of American children.

Changes in the education system are only made when legislators, researchers, and advocates come together to devise policies that work best for the current economic and social conditions. Recent conversations about education reform have been about funding, teacher retention, and a curriculum that serves a diverse student body.

While there’s been progress made to reform the education system, there’s still a long way to go.

In this guide, we explore the history of education reform in the U.S. and how you can become a useful advocate to drive meaningful change in the country’s education system.

The education reform movement in the United States

Education reform in the U.S. has a rich and varied history. In the 1800s, Horace Mann created the first publicly funded school system at the elementary level, with an emphasis on teacher training, and universal and secular education. 

By the early 1900s, as a response to the broader social reforms linked to the industrial revolution, John Dewey launched the progressive education movement. He challenged the old-school, rigid education system, pushing for critical thinking and problem-solving. He focused on a child-centered approach to learning to equip students for a future as active citizens capable of navigating a democracy.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s desegregated schools, giving all students equal access to education. In the 1980s, standardized testing took center stage to measure school performance, while the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act aimed to ensure children across the board received a quality education.

In the 1990s, the School Choice Movement gave parents the power to choose between charter schools, private schools, or homeschooling. The pandemic shifted learning settings further, bringing technology and remote learning into the spotlight.

Yet, despite these reforms, students, parents, and teachers experience a system that still has deep problems. The fight for a better system continues.

Top issues in education reform

Education reform is meant to improve education quality and student learning. Major issues in education still persist in America, ranging from a loss of funding to teacher burnout, which have a huge impact on learning outcomes. 

Funding

The end of the Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ESSER) funds has negatively affected K-12 public schools. The ESSER funds provided $189.5 billion to support school districts during the pandemic, but their removal has led to school closures, loss of afterschool programs, and overcrowded classrooms — all of which hurt education quality. 

Low-income communities have been especially impacted, losing access to enrichment programs like robotics and mentorship. Additionally, funding shortages lead to teacher attrition, as low salaries and job insecurity continue to drive educators away.

Safety 

School shootings have been a constant source of anxiety for students, staff, and parents for several decades. Gun-violence related figures show that in 2024, a total of 52 school shootings have taken place in public schools nationwide. The deadliest school shooting took place in 2022 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas which left 19 students and two staff members dead.

Standardized testing

Standardized testing was introduced to ensure students meet academic standards in subjects like math and reading, and to assess school quality. They are supposed to be taken by students annually from third to eighth grade, and once in high school. 

Tests like the SAT and ACT help determine if students are ready to move to the next grade or attend college. While intended to make education more equitable, these tests have faced criticism. Critics argue they mainly prepare students for the test itself, don’t measure critical thinking, and favor wealthier students. The cost of exams, like the $100 SAT fee, is also a barrier for low-income students, prompting calls for reform.

Teacher burnout

Teacher burnout is another problem caused by heavy workloads, long work hours, and taking on extra responsibilities outside of typical teacher expectations. Burnout is characterized by chronic stress, impacting productivity, energy, and mental health. Teacher burnout also leads to issues of high turnover. Teacher shortages can also lead to hiring underqualified candidates in an effort to fill necessary roles quickly.

Student mental health

Student mental health continues to decline due to various reasons, including a toxic school environment with pervasive bullying and oversized classrooms where students don’t get individualized attention. According to data from 2023, 40% of high school students reported experiencing feelings of sadness and hopelessness, whereas 20% had thoughts about suicide.

Equity in education issues

The U.S. government, with the help of advocates and policy leaders, has moved to make education as universally accessible and equal as possible. But, there are major roadblocks to equity in education impacting student outcomes. The following are among the major factors restricting education equity.

A limited curriculum that disadvantages students

The curriculum offered by the K-12 education system has been criticized for being restrictive, racist, and sexist. While public schools teach math and science as core subjects, some feel that they should also offer Critical Race Theory (CRT) which teaches students about America’s history with slavery and racism. CRT shows how deep-rooted racism in social, political, and legal structures throughout history continues to disadvantage people of color. About 18 states have banned teaching CRT in schools.

Gender studies is another school subject that educators are divided on. Some 62% of teachers believe that gender identity should not be taught at schools. Experts also emphasize that teaching climate justice should be a key factor in education equity.

The unmet needs of neurodivergent students 

There are about 7.3 million children in the public school system with disabilities, including neurodivergent conditions like ADHD and dyslexia. Some also experience developmental disorders, behavioral issues, and mental health illnesses.

Parents are concerned that their neurodiverse children are not being given specialized attention despite the existence of Individual Education Plans (IEPs). There is also a chronic shortage of special education (SE) teachers which hinders the academic progress of neurodiverse children. About 44 out of 50 states have reported a shortage of special needs teachers.

Examples of education reform movements

These are the significant education reform movements that led to the changes we see in the education system today.

The Common School Movement (1800s)

This movement was led by lawyer and first Secretary of the State Board of Education Horace Mann, who pushed to move away from religious schooling to establish the first public school with tax dollars. This was also a critical step towards universal education in the U.S. Mann, a big advocate of public education, sought to democratize public education to make sure it served children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. He also placed greater emphasis on teacher training.

Progressive Education Movement (Late 1800s – early 1900s)

The Progressive Education Movement emerged during a time of social reforms in the Western world, driven by industrialization. These reforms aimed to improve labor conditions, address racial inequality, and promote greater democratic participation. John Dewey, a key figure in the movement, emphasized the importance of critical thinking over rote memorization in providing the skills needed to navigate modern life and actively participate in democracy. 

The Civil Rights Movement and educational equity (1950s-1960s)

World War II heralded a new education movement associated with the Civil Rights Movement anchored in providing free and universal education to people of all racial and economic backgrounds. It was characterized by landmark Supreme Court rulings, and a concerted effort to serve low-income children.

Brown v Board of Education (1954)

This decision was a turning point in U.S. education that sought to eliminate racial segregation in schools. It was a part of the broader Civil Rights Movement which declared the “separate but equal” doctrine was inherently unequal and divisive. This Supreme Court ruling established equal opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

The War on Poverty (1965)

This was a legislation and series of programs passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 to end the poverty cycle in the U.S. by providing children from low-income backgrounds a quality education and support services. The two major programs included:

• Head Start Program — The Head Start Program was founded to provide early learning opportunities to low-income families. Head Start is now a fully federally-funded program that serves children from ages three to five. 
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act — This was a landmark piece of legislation passed by Congress that directed federal dollars to elementary and secondary schools to improve educational opportunities for students living in poverty.

Standards-based reform and accountability (1980s – 1990s) 

Reforms during this time began to emphasize standardized testing, curriculum-based assessments, and setting academic targets. It aimed to measure student performance, and hold institutions accountable for the quality of instruction. In 2001, President George W. Bush introduced the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), mandating that schools meet certain academic benchmarks or face penalties such as a withdrawal of federal funds from school districts.

The School Choice Movement (1990s)

This movement emerged in the 1990s, giving parents and students the opportunity to choose alternatives to public schooling including the option of homeschooling and charter schools. This era also marked the proliferation of charter schools all over the country. Charter Schools are publicly funded, but privately managed schools.

Common Core and modern reforms (2000s – present day)

The Common Core Standard Initiatives were a multi-state initiative that strived to set clear, consistent standards in English and math to measure student performance and to prepare students for college. Argument-building and critical thinking are huge components of common core reforms.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2015. An update of the NCLB, ESSA shifted the power away from the federal government to give individual states autonomy in crafting curriculum and setting academic standards.

Post-pandemic reforms focused on the greater integration of technology for student learning. It also established hybrid classes to accommodate students who want to take both in-person or remote classes.

Campaigns on Change.org

Anyone can advance the movement by starting a petition to raise awareness and influence decision makers, as many advocates have already shown. Here are some examples of impactful education reform initiatives on Change.org.

University of Georgia (UGA) tightens on-campus security

This February 2024 petition called for UGA to install emergency blue lights on campus after the tragic murder of a student on campus grounds. These blue lights are able to deter crimes and be used to alert the police. 

The petition, which received over 25,000 signatures, was a powerful testament to students’ voices being heard, and ultimately secured a safer campus environment for all.

Salary increase for therapists working with preschool students

This petition was started by caregivers and parents of children with learning disabilities in Long Island, New York. They emphasize that the low salaries of therapists results in the shortage and underqualification of providers. This has an adverse impact on the educational outcomes of neurodiverse children. 

With over 12,000 supporters, the petition successfully brought attention to the issue, which advocated for fair compensation for therapists and improved educational opportunities for young children with special needs. Both counties in the area responded that they will be implementing wage increases for service providers.

How you can join the movement

Everyday citizens can make meaningful contributions to education reform by practicing community organizing and learning to become a valuable advocate. Here are some ways to exercise your role as an active participant in the education reform movement: 

• Ask legislators or policy makers to help change a law or push for reform by writing letters and emails, calling your representatives, and starting petitions
• If you’re a teacher, join a union like the National Education Association to advocate for better working conditions and compensation packages for educators by lobbying or going on strike
• Join school board meetings as community members or parents to learn about and advocate for important decisions
• Start campaigns on Change.org to increase awareness about a particular issue related to education reform

You can help shape the future of education reform

The movement to modernize the U.S. education system is passionate and strong, but inequities remain a major issue. 

Petitions are a powerful way to drive change. If you’re concerned about the current state of education in America, or if you have an idea of how to improve opportunities for students and educators, take action by starting a petition.