Top Performers
Marc Tucker was president of the National Center on Education and the Economy. For two decades, his research focused on the policies and practices of the countries with the best education systems. This blog is no longer being updated.
Education
Opinion
'I Love the Uneducated.'
In his final Top Performers post, Marc Tucker says farewell and tells readers what's next for him.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Teachers Colleges as the Weakest Link: Part 2
Building off of his piece last week, Marc Tucker looks at how the economics of higher education and lacking state governance combine to weaken schools of education.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Teachers Colleges: The Weakest Link
Marc Tucker explores why and how U.S. teacher education is holding our teachers, the profession and our schools back.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
David Osborne on Reinventing Government (of Schools)
In discussing a recent book on remaking U.S. schools by David Osborne, Marc Tucker explores how his own views on school choice, competition and accountability have evolved over the years.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
The Great American Growth Machine and How to Fix it
Marc Tucker responds to a Wall Street Journal piece by former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan and Economist editor Adrian Woodridge and argues that it is challenges in our education system, rather than increasing regulation and social expenditures, that are undermining U.S. economic dynamism.
Education
Opinion
Trust: An Essential Ingredient for Top Performance
Marc Tucker explores the critical importance of trust in successful education systems and how trust was lost in U.S. education.
Assessment
Opinion
Setting NAEP Performance Standards: How We Got Here
Marc Tucker recounts the history of criticism of NAEP's standard-setting process and proposes a new model for The Nation's Report Card.
Student Achievement
Opinion
NAEP Must Get Its Standards Right This Time
With NAEP at a critical crossroads as the Nation's Report Card's governing board sets new proficiency standards, Marc Tucker argues the board must align those standards to real-world college and career readiness or U.S. students and schools will pay the price.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
On Nobel Prizes That Do Not Yet Exist and Other Exciting Matters
Marc Tucker looks at a host of issues raised by readers after his recent blog post looking at why U.S. schools continue to struggle.
Education Funding
Opinion
Is What Once Made U.S. Schools Great Now Holding Them Back?
Marc Tucker takes us through the development of the U.S. education system and examines how key elements of that development have allowed a growing number of countries to far exceed American performance.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
The Tangled Web: The High School Diploma, College and Career Readiness Standards and Career and Technical Education
Marc Tucker looks at how low bars for college and career readiness standards, career and technical education and high school graduation requirements are leaving U.S. students two and three years behind their peers in top-performing systems.
Standards
Opinion
Arne Duncan's Take on School Reform: Read It!
Marc Tucker reflects on what we can learn about systems reform from the former Secretary's new book.
Education
Opinion
It's Time: I'm Stepping Down
Marc Tucker announces he's stepping down as president and CEO of NCEE and shares his plans for the future.
Education Funding
Opinion
The Summer of '18
Marc Tucker's reflections as the summer months come to a close.