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The Forum on the Future of Public Education

The Forum on the Future of Public Education strives to bring the best empirical evidence to policymakers and the public.

The Forum draws on a network of premier scholars to create, interpret, and disseminate credible information on key questions facing P-20 education. The Forum pursues original research and facilitates collaboration between researchers and policymakers to examine the pressing issues shaping the future of public education. Key constituencies of the Forum include scholars who influence research, policy and practice; policy makers and policy making bodies at all levels; members of the media who influence public opinion; foundations, organizations, business groups and others who support, criticize and advocate for reform; and citizens who make choices about education for themselves and their children.

America is witnessing a drastic redefinition of the policies and practices associated with “public education.” Too often, discussions around the future of public education are strong on passion but short on actual evidence. The Forum for the Future of Public Education is filing that gap by building a resource of objective, research-based insights on key educational issues. We are establishing an open venue- a true public forum to debate controversial and consequential policy issues that will shape American’s future.

Latest News

Contesting Public Education: Opting Out, Activism, and Dissent in Education Policy

by Emily Comer (ecomer3@illinois.edu) / Aug 28, 2017

The journal Educational Theory is pleased to invite you to a one-day conference exploring such questions as:

  • What values and claims are at stake when parents and students opt out of education?
  • How do these claims intersect with public goals for education, including equity?
  • How might opting out be understood as a form of dissent, activism and political action?

Guest presenters: Michele Moses (University of Colorado-Boulder), Amy Shuffelton (Loyola University Chicago), Sarah Stitzlein (University of Cincinnati), Ashley Taylor (Colgate University), Quentin Wheeler-Bell (Indiana University-Bloomington), Terrenda White (University of Colorado-Boulder), and Terri Wilson (University of Colorado-Boulder).

Click here for flyer with schedule.

Please RSVP to Emily Comer (ecomer3@illinois.edu) to help us estimate attendance.

Cost: The institute is free and open to the public; lunch and refreshments provided.

Contact: Emily Comer
ecomer3@illinois.edu

Co-sponsors: The Learning Publics Initiative (Center for Advanced Study), The State of Learning: The University in a Divided Nation (A Provost's Office Initiative, supported by the Center for Advanced Study), The Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, and the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership