Some consider Checker Finn to be the Obewan Kenobi of education reform. He is a master, a wise man, and a major influence on thought for many who participate in education reform efforts today (especially one of these authors). A wise person recently wrote an article on these pages entitled “Education Reform Is a Bipartisan Effort.” Although unpleasant, I found myself having a bit of a disagreement with Finn this time.
When we say “minor” disagreement, we mean that education should be an American value, not something owned by either political party, but a generally agreed-upon philosophy regarding the purpose of the education system. Because we wholeheartedly agree that it is necessary. As a nation, we need a rich vision for public education that ensures that all young people have the knowledge, skills, and character that enable them to succeed individually and as a society.
Where we may differ is whether “bipartisanship” is itself a goal when attempting education policy. Certainly, when bipartisan politics is possible, whether it's education policy or any other issue, that is a desirable outcome. All policies are better when they are developed with broad support across the political spectrum. And we know this is the process our founders envisioned: give-and-take negotiations, often involving compromise by all parties, and ultimately winning majority support. I believe there is. This process always seeks to maximize the number of Americans who will benefit from the implementation of a particular policy, taking into account those who may not benefit or may even be harmed. It is.
Historically, bipartisanship has been highly valued and has represented commendable compromises and collective victories, particularly in the field of education. We still think that's desirable. However, we understand that in the current political climate, a bipartisan position is often interpreted as weakness, a capitulation to opposing views. As a result, the political motivation for bipartisanship has largely disappeared, and bipartisanship is now elusive, if not impossible. While we continue to hope for a shift toward a more positive perception of bipartisan efforts, the current realities of the political climate require a different approach.
A recent paper from the Aspen Institute introduces the concept of “bipartisanship” as a potential strategy for today's education advocates to consider.
In our analysis of national policies, we observed a number of initiatives that received support from a wide range of political actors. However, these were not necessarily “bipartisan” efforts in the traditional sense. Alternatively, you could call them “bipartisan.” This is meant to mean modern political cooperation, or policy success. in spite of It's not because there's broad political support.
Advocates seeking cross-party support will need to develop strategies to attract policymakers by appealing to their major political interests and core bases of political support.
Elements of building cross-party support
As part of a larger effort focused on rebuilding the broader support base in education, we conducted focus groups and individual interviews with education leaders to provide an overview of the state of the state legislature over the past several years. did. We found several themes and common factors among successful policy initiatives. They do not guarantee success in all cases, but they seem necessary, if not sufficient. Without them, your efforts are much less likely to be successful. Below is a quick overview of his five factors that we identified (which are discussed in more detail in the Aspen paper mentioned above).
- Problems and solutions can be easily communicated. In order to gain a wide support base, policy initiatives must be easy to communicate. Successes like science-based policies on reading demonstrate the power of simplicity and empathy in communication.
- Policy changes are made according to local context. It is a well-known saying that all politics is local. Policy solutions tailored to specific local issues can often overcome political polarization.
- Political cover exists. “Political cover” is helpful when the policy change is new or potentially controversial. i.e., higher political power, voting blocs, or higher order policy mandates (existing laws or unforeseen events requiring action, such as a pandemic or recession).
- Both sides win. In politics, it is important to realize that everyone is trying to achieve victory for their side. The key to bipartisan success is finding a way for each side to claim victory.
- Strategic use of media. There is no denying the power of the media in shaping public policy. Some may argue that it is more effective to prevent progress than to accelerate it. That's a valid point. But its potential as a force for good should not be underestimated.
If one or more of these factors are present, and of course the more the better, it will help us succeed within the political incentive structure we currently have, rather than the structure we would like to have. It will be possible to do so.
These examples of support are examples of what we now call “bipartisan,” meaning support that goes beyond traditional partisan lines and comes from people with different political philosophies. A feature of bipartisanship is that the “reasons” that animate support can vary widely among coalition members. That is, they are not pursuing the same interests, and this initiative serves multiple interests.
Adopting a bipartisan approach may become a new strategic imperative for successful education policy. This is not just a legislative victory, it is essential for the long-term well-being and prosperity of our children and communities. Examples from various states demonstrate that, despite deep political divides, it is possible to make meaningful improvements in education that “cross” political divides.
Different political actors may need to take different paths to reach the final destination of a common solution. Focus on the destination rather than the path you took. The success of all of our students and our country depends on it.
