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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

Education alumnus Mark Foley receives state award for teaching history

by the College of Education at Illinois / Aug 16, 2018

Mark FoleyCollege of Education alumnus Mark Foley '96 C&I, Ed.M. '03 Ed.Psych., was named the recipient of the 2018 History Teacher of the Year award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 

Foley, a teacher at Urbana High School, emphasizes community service and loves teaching about film and music.

“It allows me to dig into the cultural history of the U.S. instead of politics and wars,” Foley said in an interview with The News-Gazette. "It shows how the Earth reflects the time people live in."

Read the full interview.