What's In-Store for Education Now?

With Republicans now in control of the U.S. House of Representatives, many in the field are wondering if education could be the policy area that Republicans and Democrats agree on. A recent article in New York Times Magazine takes this position: "The [administration] sees areas for possible bipartisan agreements, like reauthorizing the nation's education laws to include reform measures favored by centrists and conservatives."

On paper, it would seem that Republicans should, actually, agree with many of President Obama's education reform agenda. Obama advocates improving teacher accountability and the expansion of charter schools, policy areas that many Democrats disagree on. This has left journalists and political pundits to surmise that a Republican House will give Obama the support he needs to pass these educational reform bills.

Others disagree. Yes, Obama has proposed school reform measures that overlap with those of Republicans - namely when it comes to teachers' unions, but none of these agreements mask the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of the Tea Party - at once Republican but far from the centrist positions Obama and Republicans overlap on.
For many, a Republican House simply means deadlock for education policy. As Kevin Carey, policy director for Education Sector said: "A Republican takeover of the House is a recipe for inaction."

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Photo Credit: Alex Barth