As we mark the 25th anniversary of A Nation At Risk, the landmark federal report that claimed public schools are failing and set off a wave of school reform efforts, it’s time to examine the state of education policy today.

Neo-liberal policies are having a big impact on public education. Standardized tests, accountability, and charter schools are being used to undermine regular public schools. Corporations are trying to establish an education market that is available to speculators.

NCLB was created to set up this market by using a corporate model that reduces the quality of teachers and the educational experience of students. While corporations are only concerned with increasing profits, not actually improving public schools, educators must continue to improve public education and fight privatization forces that want to destroy it.

A new development in the privatization movement is “Ed in 08,” an effort funded by Bill Gates and Los Angeles millionaire Eli Broad to “purchase” education. Ed in 08 has three points: merit pay or “pay-for-performance,” national education standards, and a longer school day and year.

Broad thinks that urban schools should adopt business methods to succeed, including competition, accountability (based on standardized test scores with teacher pay linked to them), and unhampered management authority. He wants to limit teacher input on curriculum and defining union-protected rights.

His ideas would have a negative impact on the quality of education he purports to improve. We know how the calls for business models, accountability, and standardized testing have turned our schools into stifling places to work and learn. It’s time for education workers and parents to band together to improve schooling and to organize against privatization.