Alliance for Learning Innovation and American Enterprise Institute Celebrate Role of Education R&D in Maintaining National Competitiveness
- Sara Schapiro
- Feb 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 10
On February 19, the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosted a bipartisan briefing on the use of evidence-based solutions to prepare students with the skills needed for college, career, and lifelong success. ALI was honored to bring together distinguished former state and federal officials, industry voices, philanthropists, and district leaders for this timely conversation.
In his keynote address, the Honorable Asa Hutchinson, 46th Governor of Arkansas, emphasized the importance of cultivating state and local education R&D champions, noting that “the best champions for education are our governors and education leaders in our states and universities.” Reflecting on his leadership in computer science education, he highlighted the transformative impact of the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative, which expanded high school computer science enrollment from 1,100 students to 38,000 in a decade. To keep pace with these advancements and sustain U.S. economic competitiveness, Governor Hutchinson called for bold action to ensure education systems adapt to the demands of the future.
Following Governor Hutchinson’s opening remarks, ALI’s Executive Director Sara Schapiro brought together a bipartisan panel of former US Department of Education officials to discuss bright spots in the nation’s federal education R&D infrastructure.
The panel included Bill Hansen, President and Chief Executive Officer at Building Hope and Former US Deputy Secretary of Education at the United States Department of Education; Roberto Rodriguez, Former US Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the United States Department of Education; and Mark Schneider, Nonresident Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and Former Director of the Institute of Education Sciences. Key takeaways from the conversation include:
A Call for a New Blueprint for Education R&D: Mark Schneider asked the audience “how do we rebuild? How do we envision the future?” The research community has the unique opportunity to uplift what has worked historically in education R&D, innovate around future possibilities, and create a more nimble and efficient education R&D ecosystem for the future.
Highlighting Education R&D Successes: Roberto Rodriguez uplifted the many ways federal investments in education R&D have improved career pathways and elevated student outcomes. Looking forward, Rodriguez described the recent NAEP scores as a “wake up call for us to think about research and development in the context of preparing our students for academic competitiveness,” pointing to the positive outcomes of evidence-based solutions such as the science of reading and high dosage tutoring.
Collection of Student-Centered Data: Bill Hansen provided an overview of Virginia’s education initiatives, highlighting the state’s new accountability system. He underscored the importance of using data to drive innovative solutions, stating, “As we produce data, we must leverage it to create disruptive solutions—whether in curriculum, assessments, or the design and delivery of education systems. Above all, we must always remember the children.”
The final panel brought together a cross-sector group of panelists, including Guadalupe Guerrero, Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools; Terri Holden, Superintendent of Yellow Springs Exempted Village School District; Katy Knight, Executive Director and President of the Siegel Family Endowment, and Lydia Logan; Vice President of Global Education and Workforce Development at IBM. Key takeaways from the conversation include:
The Importance of Responding to Districts: Terri Holden reminded the audience: “don’t forget boots on the ground; it’s easy to do R&D in a vacuum but you must include us, and we are willing.”
An Emphasis on Career and Technical Education (CTE): Preparing students for the future of work requires access to evidence-based and career-connected learning opportunities that can inspire and inform students of career pathways. Guadalupe Guerrero highlighted, “We know from our data that if you take at least one CTE course, your GPA is higher, your attendance is higher, your engagement with school is higher. Everybody’s experience is a lot better. Why? Because there’s purpose, there’s engagement, there’s belonging about their future.”
Ground Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education in Evidence: Katy Knight urged the audience to take a deliberate, evidence-based approach when integrating artificial intelligence into education. She emphasized the potential of AI tools, when grounded in research, to equip students with the knowledge and competencies necessary for success in the modern workforce.
Prioritize Durable Skills Too: Lydia Logan opened the discussion by emphasizing the critical role of durable skills, stating, “Technical skills may get you a job, but it’s the other skills that help you keep it.” As panelists discussed efforts to strengthen career pathways, they reinforced the need to prioritize skills like care, community, and communication—essential qualities that support long-term success in both work and life.
Photos: Aaron Clamage Photography © American Enterprise Institute