Article Summary

For decades, American education has been caught up in a vision that aimed to make every child learn the same things, in the same way, at the same pace. The results of this approach are in, and they aren't pretty.

The Center for Educational Progress argues it's time for a fundamental shift, embracing the pursuit of excellence and recognizing that different learning speeds aren't a problem, but a reality.

The "one-size-fits-all" approach, exemplified by policies like No Child Left Behind and the push for detracking, has led to a "race to the middle." Schools are incentivized to meet arbitrary thresholds, often at the expense of challenging brighter students. Efforts to eliminate gifted programs and standardized tests, driven by ideological concerns, further contribute to this mediocrity.

The Center challenges the cynical view that education is ineffective, arguing that the real failure lies in trying to eliminate individual differences. Instead, it proposes an adaptive system that embraces these differences, raising the ceiling for every child. Policies like direct instruction, acceleration, ability grouping, and even aristocratic tutoring should be embraced.

The authors suggest we all need to be committed to understanding and promoting schools and learning environments that encourage students to pursue excellence. This involves defending against policies that hinder progress, building a new body of research, and fostering a community of students, educators, and parents.

The goal is not to create a divide between the gifted and the ungifted, but to understand where each child is, where they want to go, and how to get them there.

The Center's core principles include:

- Excellence should be accessible, and exceptional outcomes are achievable.

- Schools should teach to ability, not age.

- Progress is constrained by interest over intelligence.

- Growth requires measurement.

- Order enables excellence.

- Education serves students first.