Transform Now

The American dream is under duress as the income gap widens, and upward mobility is more limited than at any time in recent history. Despite a steady increase in per-pupil spending on public schooling over the last decades, not enough students graduate with proficiency in reading and math. And despite some recent progress, students living in poverty and students of color still lag far behind white students with more means.

Thankfully, not all schools are failing. There are many exemplary schools, including urban schools, that are succeeding despite high poverty rates, and there are growing numbers of district leaders taking courageous steps toward real and lasting improvement. Yet, to achieve our ambitious performance goals for all students, a school-by-school approach alone is not the answer. We need to raise our sights and reorganize the entire educational structure in which our schools function.

Transform Now builds the foundation for ERS' School System 20/20 vision, which has since evolved into the Strategic System, providing clarity for district and state leaders on what it takes to build a school system that succeeds for all students.