Education Reform Experiences on the Ground: Implementing a Learning Agenda

For the first time, the city of Buenos Aires is systematically measuring learning by implementing a district-wide assessment of all students and teachers, drawing heavily from the education reform efforts underway in the District of Columbia. Requiring everyone to participate in teaching and learning evaluations, city officials in Buenos Aires plan to use the assessment results to help inform their ongoing education reforms.

On April 2, the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings hosted a discussion on what happens when education reform policies are applied on the ground. Maria de las Mercedes Miguel, director general of education planning for the city of Buenos Aires, discussed the opportunities and challenges of implementing new policies aimed at measuring learning outcomes in order to make smart investments in education. Sir Michael Barber, chief education advisor at Pearson International and author of Deliverology 101: A Field Guide for Educational Leaders (Corwin Press, 2010), and Carey Wright, D.C. Public Schools’ chief academic advisor, offered their perspectives on implementing a learning-focused reform agenda, comparing experiences and lessons from Washington, D.C. with those of Buenos Aires. Brookings Senior Fellow Rebecca Winthrop, director of CUE, moderated the discussion.

After the program, participants took audience questions.