Since the end of the industrial age, Americans have worried about improving their education system. But the country has never been able to make much progress. Other nations do it better, and the United States must learn from their examples if it hopes to catch up.

Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister of Thailand in July 2011. She has so far achieved the most important thing in Thailand today, which is preserving a fragile peace between different interest groups and political sides.

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American policymakers have long been concerned about the eroding U.S. advantage in educating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students. With much of the assembly work for lucrative high-technology products having moved to Asia, future U.S. prosperity depends increasingly on innovating new products and techniques—innovation that requires training (or importing) a new generation of scientists and engineers.

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Peter Orszag writes that the link between life expectancy and college completion is not well understood, but they appear to be related to growing income inequality.

Peter Orszag highlights research findings that reinforce the usefulness of test scores in evaluating teacher performance.

Peter Orszag argues that widening gaps in college completion rates between rich and poor students not only undermines the American ideal of equal opportunity, but also misses an economic opportunity to boost productivity.

Peter Orszag argues that simplifying access to financial aid can help more Americans earn college degrees, reduce inequality, and boost economic growth.

With money playing an ever more important role in politics, institutions of higher education need to lead the charge for greater accountability in corporate political spending, says Terra Lawson-Remer.

University endowments ought to be invested in corporations that promote their institutions' mission, argues Terra Lawson-Remer. But for that happen, the Securities and Exchange Commission will first have to require public corporations to disclose their campaign spending activities.

Education must become a central focus to ensure a stable and prosperous U.S. in the future, write Margaret Spellings and Joel Klein. Klein lead the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force on U.S. Education Reform and National Security.

President Obama published this op-ed on education in Time magazine on October 18, 2012.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney published this op-ed on education in Time magazine on October 18, 2012.

In the wake of a move to increase instructional time for Chicago public school students, Peter Orszag highlights education research showing a link between more time in the classroom and improved academic performance.

President Obama gave this interview with Savannah Guthrie at NBC's "Education Nation" summit in New York on September 26, 2012.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave this interview with Brian Williams at NBC's "Education Nation" summit in New York on September 26, 2012.

Budgetary constraints in a tight economy have forced reform and created conflict at the University of Virginia.

Megan McArdle examines whether college is a worthwhile investment in a time when the rising costs are leaving parents and students with large amounts of debt and college degrees no longer guarantee a job after graduation.

Andrew Martin explains the challenges borrowers face as they struggle to pay off their student loans as both the federal government and the debt collection industry attempt to recoup their money.

How does education in the United States compare to education in other nations? Research links for news, statistics, and reports on comparative education.

Peter Orszag explains how summer inactivity can leave lasting negative impacts on a child's academic performance and physical health.