Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

Improving U.S. Competitiveness with K-12 STEM Education and Training

The Heritage Foundation, supported by the McCormick Tribune Foundation, convened leading education and national security experts as well as private-sector representatives to discuss methods for strengthening America's competitiveness by improving its performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This report describes the current state of STEM education, main points discussed at the conference, and conference attendees' conclusions for STEM education improvement and advancing America's defense capabilities and economy.

Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning? Lessons from Georgia and Oklahoma

While proponents of universal preschool often cite the findings of small, high intervention preschool programs, it is unlikely that any large-scale implementation of universal preschool could mimic their conditions and would thus fail to produce the results promised by proponents. Despite considerable taxpayer investments for universal preschool in Georgia and Oklahoma, neither state has experienced significant improvement in students’ academic achievement.

D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program: Improving Student Safety

Members of Congress and the D.C. City Council should recognize the persistent problem of school violence and crime in public schools in the nation’s capital and empower all District families with greater power to choose a safe school environment for their children.

How Members of the 111th Congress Practice Private School Choice

A Heritage survey of the Members of the 111th Congress revealed that 44 percent of Senators and 36 percent of Representatives had sent their children to private schools. A failed amendment on behalf of the popular and successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program would have passed if Members of Congress who exercised school choice for their own children had voted in favor of the amendment.

A New Approach to Improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education

American leaders have emphasized the need to improve performance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. Instead of focusing on federal solutions and increasing federal spending policymakers and the private sector should refocus attention on systemic education reforms at the state, local, and school levels to dramatically increase the number of students who succeed in STEM fields at school and in the workforce.

What No Government Program Can Do

Here in Washington, D.C., the formula almost never changes. Policymakers see a problem, throw money at it and hope it goes away. But this rarely works. That's usually because the answer lies not in the government -- but at home.

If members of Congress can choose, why can't we?

Have you gone green? If not, chances are you're in the minority. Celebrities and companies alike are urging us all to go green by adopting "simple steps" to reduce our "carbon footprint."

Taking School Choice for Granted: Political leaders send their kids to good schools, yet deny that option to the poor.

President Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and most members of Congress have never known the sense of desperation that LaTasha Bennett feels.

School Choice and a Lesson in Hypocrisy

Even for those of us who live and breathe politics, the workings of the U.S. Senate are often difficult to understand. It takes only 51 votes to pass a bill, for example -- but first, 60 senators must agree to grant "cloture" to end the debate. And because of odd Senate policies, when John Kerry said a few years ago, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it," that bizarre statement was accurate.

Undue expulsion for D.C. kids

"I told my mom not too long ago I would like to be president one day when I grow up," writes Fransoir, a seventh grader and recipient of a scholarship to attend a private school in the District of Columbia. But if congressional Democrats have their way, his academic future could become another casualty in the war of educational politics.

Putting Parents Last in Education: Special interests are the reason Congress is taking a $14 million scholarship program away from poor children

Any doubts about congressional leaders’ priorities on education were erased Monday with the release of the new $450 billion omnibus bill. It includes a provision to eliminate the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program, which is currently helping low-income children attend private schools in the nation’s capital.