Discussion Questions:

1. Read the most recent iteration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (linked in the resources section below), which was passed on December 10, 2015. How is the Every Student Succeeds Act the same or different from past federal education policy?  Do you believe that the Every Student Succeeds Act will be more or less successful than past federal education policy?  Why?

2. In terms of the structure of schools, the three most debated topics are charter schools, class size, and year-round schooling. From the list below, choose one topic for further exploration. Briefly outline the debate. Where do you stand on this topic? Why? (All topics linked in the resources section below)

Margaret E. Raymond’s “A Critical Look at the Charter School Debate”

“Leonie Haimson on Why Class Size Matters”

PBS News Hour’s “Why Students May Benefit from Year-Round Schooling”

• 3. You have read about how government agencies and actors at the federal, state, and local levels affect the everyday operations of a school through both decision-making practices and allocation of funding resources. Another school funding model has entered the educational lexicon and is becoming quite popular with some education stakeholders and parents, and it is known as the voucher system or school choice. This model is available in the state of Georgia. Read NPR’s “School Vouchers 101: What They Are, How They Work — And Do They Work?” (linked in the resources section below) and consider 1) what effect, if any, would the voucher system have on our current “local control” governance model of schools, 2) how would a voucher system affect local school funding, overall, and the funding of “failing schools”, in particular, and, 3) based on the presented evidence, what is your opinion of the voucher system? 
• https://youtu.be/673wjUPgUAk
• https://youtu.be/UtcAgx_qjEQ