Business Leaders Urged To Step Up Support For Schools

Corporate America’s commitment to reforming education is showing signs of strain at a time when it is needed more than ever. This assessment was made during a symposium on business and education at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

During the symposium, Christopher T. Cross, the president of the Council for Basic Education, expressed concerns about a decrease in corporate support for systemic change. Mr. Cross, a veteran in education policy and corporate involvement, previously served as the director of the education initiative of the Business Roundtable and was also involved in education research at the U.S. Department of Education.

Mr. Cross attributed this decline in support to recent business trends, such as corporate mergers, that have diverted resources away from charitable causes, including education reform. He highlighted the phenomenon of corporate headquarters being abandoned in some communities.

Susan Traiman, the director of the Business Roundtable’s education effort, emphasized the organization’s continued commitment to advocating for higher education standards at the state level. She stated that business leaders have credibility in lobbying for these standards.

Robert B. Schwartz, the president of Achieve Inc., stressed the need for a national strategy to improve schools and stated that the business community is best positioned to advocate for this. Lamar Alexander, former U.S. Secretary of Education and a presidential candidate, had a different opinion on corporate involvement in school reform. He believed that current business efforts are insufficient and urged business leaders to utilize their entrepreneurial skills to support reforms, including charter schools.

Despite advocating for charter schools and other reforms, Mr. Alexander also expressed his commitment to the public school system. He argued that public schools are essential to maintaining the unity of the country.

Regarding private-sector involvement in education, Mr. Alexander suggested that companies exploring niche markets such as day care, education for at-risk children, and special education may profit the most in the coming years. Mr. Alexander himself is involved in a company that provides corporate-sponsored child care and is considering expanding into operating schools.

The symposium paid tribute to David T. Kearns, a former chairman of Xerox Corp. and deputy secretary of education, who argued for business and political leaders’ support in school reform efforts in his book co-written with Denis P. Doyle, "Winning the Brain Race: A Bold Plan to Make Our Schools Competitive." This book played a significant role in inspiring the current wave of business involvement in education.

Overall, the symposium shed light on the challenges faced by corporate America in maintaining its commitment to education reform, with discussions ranging from the decline in support to the potential for private-sector involvement in various aspects of education.

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