Strong American Schools is a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy effort aimed at elevating discussion amongst America's leaders about the need for education reform. Through our campaign, ED in '08, we are calling for a vigorous and thorough discussion of the issue by the candidates for president in 2008.

This campaign seeks to unite all Americans around the crucial mission of improving our public schools by elevating the discussion to a national stage -- and what better stage than a presidential election?

Our Focus

America’s students are losing out. The world is changing, jobs are evolving, and far too many students are simply not being prepared to be successful adults:

  • Seventy percent of eighth graders are not proficient in reading—and most will never catch up.
  • Every year, more than 1.2 million students drop out of high school.
  • Compared to students in 30 industrialized countries, American 15 year olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science. Even America's top math students rank 25th out of 30 when compared with top students across the globe.
  • Many of those who do graduate are not ready for college, for the workplace and for life.

We have to act now to improve education before more American students lose out on the best jobs, hurting our economy and impacting each and every one of us.

Our Goal

We want a serious nationwide debate on education reform where every presidential candidate addresses three priorities that hold great promise for improving education:

  • Agreeing on American education standards
  • Providing effective teachers in every classroom
  • Giving students more time and support for learning.

The campaign will not support or oppose any particular candidate for public office or any political party. Nor does it take positions on legislation.

Our Structure

Strong American Schools is a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, two of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world, have provided grant funding for Strong American Schools.

Roy Romer, the former governor of Colorado and most recently superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is our chairman and lead spokesman.

Our budget is estimated to be up to $60 million.

STAND UP

Strong American Schools and the ED in 08 campaign are the successors to the STAND UP campaign launched in 2006.

Look at ED

In The News

  • 05.7.08

    Mass. Governor aide backs teacher pay overhaul  

    Governor Deval Patrick's top education adviser came out in favor yesterday of changing the way public school teachers are paid, [including] backing higher salaries for those who take posts in the most challenging schools. (Boston Globe)

  • 05.4.08

    OPINION: They want better teachers -- but slash rewards for them  

    In a column from the Orlando Sentinel, "Florida teachers make about $6,000 less than the national average, and we can expect to see that gap grow in the years ahead unless our political leaders decide they want to seriously invest in public education." (Orlando Sentinel)

  • 04.29.08

    EDITORIAL: More time for learning  

    From The Daily News Tribune in Waltham, Mass.: The most exciting school reform initiative in Massachusetts today starts with something simple: more time to learn. (Daily News Tribune)

  • 04.28.08

    EDITORIAL: After the school bell rings  

    The Boston Globe writes, "Alert urban educators recognize that expanding learning time allows them to close the achievement gap between minority and white students." (Boston Globe)

  • 04.18.08

    AT&T launches $100M effort to stem dropouts  

    AT&T unveiled a $100 million initiative April 17 designed to curb the country's high school dropout rate, which has reached critical levels in recent years. (eSchool News)