Founder of Teach for America: The US ignores a critical strategy used by top-performing Finland and Shanghai
Once again, the United States did poorly compared to other countries and territories, outranked by 38 countries in math, 24 in science, and 22 in reading, reinvigorating debate over what the US should do to improve its educational system.
Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, believes part of the problem lies in the unwillingness of the US to travel to foreign countries to learn best practices.
"You know, having listened to the people who have led the charge on improving the school systems in, say, Finland or in Shanghai, I mean, some of the - you know, who have moved their systems from mediocre to the best in the world - the first thing they will say is we sent our educators abroad to learn, to open their minds about what is possible," Kopp said on Fareed Zakaria, GPS on Monday.
"I actually think one of our biggest challenges in the United States is that we're not doing that; we're not actually going out and seeing what are these countries that are doing so well doing differently," she continued.
Finland outperformed the US across the board on the most recent PISA exam. This year, Shanghai was grouped with other provinces in China, but it continues to be a top-performing area within the country. China outperformed the US in math and science.
The PISA exam is a worldwide study administered every three years by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and it measures 15-year-olds from different countries in math, science, and reading.
While the results could seem disheartening to Americans, Jon Schnur, the executive chairman of America Achieves, says there are factors that should provide some optimism for the US. The US was No. 1 in the world in closing the achievement gap in between wealthy and disadvantaged students, Schnur said on a press call last week.
You can watch the entire video of Kopp discussing PISA results below.
- T20 World Cup: Majority of Indian players to leave for New York on May 25
- India, UK reaffirm FTA commitment at Strategic Dialogue
- IPL 2024: Will rain play spoilsport in much-awaited blockbuster CSK vs RCB clash?
- Singapore seeing new COVID-19 wave, minister advises wearing of masks
- Impact Player rule has disrupted balance of game: Virat Kohli
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market