The Big Ideas Project

Create national student defense loans, with low interest rates, and allow college grads and students who took out loans during the Bush years (and were forced to go through intermediaries to secure government funded support) to apply and refinance their college loans. It is in our national security to have a highly educated and trained workforce.

Submitted by SKL51 in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 2 a.m.

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#2312

15 votes

Educated citizens are more likely to vote than non educated. I agree with President Obama. Let's educate citizens FREE. They become tax papers, voters, and hopefully productive citizens. We need citizens to VOTE. What better way then to help them become more active thinkers.

Submitted by Coach in Education Jan. 14, 2015, 7:12 a.m.

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#2322

14 votes

Reform secondary education following the German model where young people who are not college bound finish high school after tenth grade and become apprentices learning trades on the job. This would require businesses become involved in educating future employees. Recent "reforms" are not serious attempts for real improvement in our schools causing frustration for both students and teachers.

Submitted by Joan W. from MO in Education Jan. 14, 2015, 10:40 p.m.

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#2322

14 votes

Grant free or reduced college tuition to all students who graduate from high school and agree to defer their higher education/vocational training while they participate in a national service program for 2 years.

Submitted by Patricia W. from MN in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 5:13 p.m.

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#2322

14 votes

Instead of forcing academics earlier and earlier, while reducing or even removing play time and recess, mandate developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) in the classroom--particularly for younger elementary age children. Development is a predictable and well-researched process. Policy makers need to heed advice of academics specializing in this field--NOT corporations selling test products.

Submitted by Kristene G. from CA in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 12:52 a.m.

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#2322

14 votes

Break up the age/grade lock-step. Allow students to advance either by subject or by grade when they demonstrate proficiency. Then guarantee free education for all students until the spring after their 18th birthday. If they graduate college before then, they get funding for grad school! This provides incentive for lower-income students to WORK in school, and a financial incentive for parents to encourage them.

Submitted by cc in Education Jan. 8, 2015, 8:02 p.m.

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#2339

13 votes

Eliminate the VAM for evaluating teachers based on their students' scores! The American Statistical Association says this model is inaccurate by as much as 30%! Besides, who will want to teach the slowest or most disadvantaged kids and risk losing a job?

Submitted by Rachel R. from OR in Education Jan. 16, 2015, 12:08 a.m.

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#2339

13 votes

Privatize education and ban teacher's unions

Submitted by apv in Education Dec. 10, 2014, 11:04 p.m.

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#2355

12 votes

Restrict foreign student enrollment to 10% for all educational institutions that receive state or federal grants.

Submitted by dasSchramm in Education Jan. 6, 2015, 6:04 p.m.

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#2355

12 votes

Include teachers in the planning of curriculum. The testing that was developed and the common core that is being pushed was done with Pearson and Gates group with no input from teachers. The smater balanced test is designed to show failure and it has not been validated. Time for teaching not testing.

Submitted by sara E. from OR in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 11:42 p.m.

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#2355

12 votes

Generously fund education pre-K through college for all American citizens that emphasizes science and encourages art.

Submitted by BtheBiggerPerson in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 12:12 p.m.

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#2355

12 votes

Begin a student loan forgiveness program, it could be tied to community service or some other service. Our young people need help to get out from under this crushing debt.

Submitted by Judi A. in Education Jan. 16, 2015, 12:56 a.m.

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#2355

12 votes

Separate Regular Ed. funding from Special Ed funding. Both are important and regulated by Federal mandates. Some education funding flows into private education, vouchers, home schooling, and, I've heard, our military training. When the funding is lumped together the public makes assumptions about where the money is going. I'd like to see the Federal education funding shown as dollars per student in each category. $2 billion looks great until shown as $500 per student.

Submitted by Sunny in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 2:26 p.m.

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#2376

11 votes

Remove sports programs from public schools and let the private community run them. Replace them with daily physical activities for all students. No more mega dollar sports facilities being paid for with taxes that need to be spent on classroom educational facilities.

Submitted by ACM in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 1:03 p.m.

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#2387

10 votes

A state wide board exam in core courses based on the standard national curriculum should determine the graduation from a high school.

Submitted by Rohit K. from VA in Education Jan. 4, 2015, 11:53 p.m.

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#2387

10 votes

Create a division of the Dept of Education to develop a curriculum (preschool through high school AND adult education) for Critical Thinking and Metacognition (see Wikipedia) that will include the latest practical findings in neuroscience, psychology, social psychology, behavioral economics and information science. Updated at regular intervals (say 3-5 years) it would assist citizens in focusing on the evidence base and best practice analysis of public issues.

Submitted by Boska Robert in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 10:52 a.m.

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#2387

10 votes

Support a program for universal Early Childhood Education that is developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible to ALL children birth to Kindergarten entry. Ensure that teachers in such programs are qualified and paid on par with K-12 teachers.

Submitted by Linda O. from CA in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 11:42 p.m.

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#2387

10 votes

Take the 100 most underperforming schools in the country and transform them into magnificent learning hubs. Invest in refurbishing, make the schools state of the art in regard to technology, try to attract some of the best teachers in the country, create a plethora of afterschool programs including possibly a "help with homework" room where educators are available after hours to help students with homework assignments. Even try to invest in the area surrounding the school.

Submitted by PJM in Education Jan. 15, 2015, 4:58 p.m.

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#2444

7 votes

Reduce College Debt interest rates to coincide with Mortgage Rates (3% to 4%).

Submitted by Daniel D. from AZ in Education Jan. 16, 2015, 12:17 a.m.

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#2460

6 votes

Teach "Line dancing" in schools.

Submitted by John Norton in Education Dec. 18, 2014, 2:43 a.m.

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#2460

6 votes

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