As one of the largest societal sectors, education is a natural focus for reforms. These reforms – sometimes dramatic and often incremental – change the laws, standards, methodologies, and practices that define a nation’s school systems. The term education reform has become synonymous with a variety of specific reform initiatives, but it also encompasses broader changes to an entire system that can affect all areas from curriculum development to teacher training.
From ancient times, educational reform has aimed to improve the lot of society’s members. Whether to prepare a ruling class for leadership, the working class for labor, or the citizens of a republic or democracy, it is important that the people in a nation are educated to be able to participate in its civic and social life.
Throughout history, education has adapted to reflect changes in society and technological advancements. Historically, educational reforms have focused on improving access to education and expanding the scope of learning opportunities. From private tutoring in the 18th century to public libraries, from encyclopedias to grammar schools, these innovations were all designed to help level the playing field and provide access to education for a wider range of children.
More recently, reform efforts have focused on improving student outcomes. This includes refocusing on real-world readiness and supporting students in finding diverse paths to success. This has also led to a shift in emphasis from standardized testing to a more holistic approach. However, a large gap still exists between the policy goals of reforms and what actually happens in classrooms. This is partly due to the fact that policies are enacted without the necessary support for schools to implement them.