The Buying and Selling of American Education
REIMAGINING A SYSTEM OF SCHOOLS FOR ALL CHILDREN
Available Now
The Buying and Selling of American Education offers a timely and inspiring look at the challenges and opportunities of building a more inclusive, forward-thinking education system. This book traces the history of American education as a foundation to examining persistent challenges in education today. Doctors Susan Tave Zelman and Margaret Erlandson Sorensen walk you through the process of transforming the American education system, which requires meaningful reform and improvement.
The Buying and Selling of American Education is available wherever books are sold, including these sellers:
what people are saying
“Susan Zelman and Margaret Sorensen have written the education book that America needs. Public education, built to ensure predictability and stability for adults, is struggling to innovate and adapt to COVID-era students’ needs. It’s also walled off from community assets like social service agencies, socially conscious companies and private schools. Enrollment declines and teacher shortages are evidence that things are not working. Zelman and Sorensen show how schools can have the mix of freedom and incentives to innovate, and how schools can be held publicly accountable whether they are chartered, private, or run by school districts. The system of fair funding, parent choice, school control of hiring, openness to new schools and public oversight based on specific school missions can transform and rescue post-Pandemic K-12 education.”
— Paul T. Hill, Arizona State University; author, "A Democratic Constitution for Public Education"
“While the public schools of our nation are responsible for starting our young people on the path to becoming bold and creative thinkers and caring and concerned citizens, the authors articulate a wide range of challenges that are currently undermining efforts on the part of school educators and administrators to achieve these vitally important goals and priorities. What makes the book such a compelling read for all stakeholders is that it then goes on to provide innovative and practical ways to transform these threats and challenges into opportunities for success!”
— Howard Mandell, social justice professor; former board chair, Southern Poverty Law Center
“For the general public and teacher education students who want to learn about how education works in America, Zelman and Sorensen’s book offers a thought-provoking account about curriculum and instruction, making teaching a more honorable profession, school choice, community engagement, school finance, and governance. The authors provide an interesting model though not perfect that can stimulate our thinking to reimagine new systems of schools that can provide ALL students and their parents with more options for better schools that address their unique needs. This is a must read for all who want to see the current system be more equitable and eliminate the culture wars that tear America apart.”
— Richard Ross, former superintendent, Reynoldsburg school system; former state superintendent, public instruction; member, Board of Trustees, Bowling Green State University
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Margaret Erlandson Sorensen was a member of VISTA and has several decades experience in community organizing in a settlement house and neighborhood health centers. She has served in multiple policy and research positions in the Ohio Department of Education.
Susan Tave Zelman was a high school teacher, college professor and researcher. The second half of her career she served in high level positions in state departments of education in Massachusetts, Missouri and State Superintendent of Public Education of Ohio. She currently consults with education technology companies and advises education leaders. Learn more about Dr. Zelman.