As the urgency for improving America’s schools increases, the core ideas guiding education reform remain remarkably stable, defying the ideological or partisan claims that can often stifle political change. “Schools in High Gear, Reforms That Work When They Work Together” is a collection of essays from some of the leading minds in education, explaining why a silver bullet won’t fix America’s schools–comprehensive policy solutions are needed.

Leaders of five national organizations that serve as policy partners for the Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network co-authored the paper. They explain how the following core ideas crucial to education reform evolved and why they continued to be sharpened through the interplay with other goals.