From The Blog »

OP-ED: Patchwork of Accountability Could Leave Students Behind

Policymakers on both sides of the aisle are taking to the airwaves, urging a return to local control of education. Some have even suggested that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) ushered in a “one size fits all” approach to education with little or no flexibility. In fact, states have had all the authority to set their own academic standards, design their own tests aligned to those standards and to intervene when schools have shown consistent inability to educate children accordingly.

Posted May 16, 2012

Do You Know Who’s Running Your School Board?

Local school boards play a critical role in shaping the direction of U.S. education reform. Yet low voter turnout and frequent member turnover means that school boards can be largely dominated by special interests, such as vendors seeking district contracts, employee unions, and single-issue advocacy groups who have their own agendas. And those agendas do not include improving your child’s education or the development of a strong American workforce.

Posted May 16, 2012

ICW Announces Postsecondary Education Grant Winners

Earlier this year, ICW announced a grant opportunity for chambers of commerce and business-related organizations who were interested in hosting activities that aim to advance public policy in higher education and inform the community on how our education systems are performing. After reviewing over 30 proposals, ICW is excited to announce the recipients of the grants.

Posted May 10, 2012

Information +Accountability = Better School Boards

While drafting the Declaration of Independence the founders wove in words near and dear to American hearts. The phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” is known to every child as the unalienable rights given to us as Americans. But, there is another thing that the founders had the forethought to weave throughout this document; the concept of accountability.

Posted May 10, 2012

Upcoming Events »

June 14, 2012 to June 14, 2012

A Smarter America = A Safer America

The United States' failure to educate its students leaves them unprepared to compete and threatens the country's ability to thrive in a global economy and maintain its leadership role, finds the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) report, U.S. Education Reform and National Security. This event will link the business community and their commitment to improving the education system with the global security issues that have been identified.

Summits | Postsecondary
June 19, 2012 to June 19, 2012

Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Public Postsecondary Education

ICW will be releasing Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Public Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Summits | K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce Development
September 20, 2012 to September 21, 2012

Help Wanted 2012

Join ICW September 20-21 2012 for our Help Wanted summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Latest News »

Report: School Boards Play Important Role, Face Challenges

While well-known officials such as U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan may get a lot of national press, smaller, sometimes overlooked groups also have a huge impact on American education. Local school boards critically shape the quality of district-wide public education, according to the "School Board Case Studies" report released yesterday by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its two nonprofit affiliates, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce and the National Chamber Foundation.
Posted May 16, 2012

Former U.S. ed secretary on legacy of No Child Left Behind

Daniel Malloy, the AJC’s reporter in Washington, D.C., sat down with former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings for an interview at an event in Washington today. Here are her answers to a series of questions on major education issues.
Posted May 15, 2012

U.S. Chamber Report Illustrates Need for Voice of Business in School Governance

13 Case Studies in U.S. Cities Reveal That Business Leaders Need to Hold School Board and Education Leaders Accountable to Ensure a High Quality Workforce

Posted May 15, 2012

School Board Case Studies

School Board Case Studies takes a close look at school boards and how the local business community can make them more accountable, effective, and focused on the needs of students.

Posted May 14, 2012

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A state-by-state report card reflecting the performance of the 50 states & DC on their
K-12 education.

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