The Future of Education

In an era of growing educational disparities in large metropolitan cities, school turnaround remains a central issue in educational reform. This presentation, grounded in the work of Dr. Chance W. Lewis, offers a bold vision for the future: a scalable and actionable blueprint for how Major Research Universities (MRUs) can meaningfully contribute to transforming urban K-12 education. Drawing from Dr. Lewis’ Fall 2023 research sabbatical at Texas A&M University, the report contends that while federal and state policies such as No Child Left Behind and ESSA have emphasized accountability, they have not resulted in sustained academic improvement in underperforming schools. Dr. Lewis highlights the inaction of MRUs—despite their proximity, resources, and prestige—and outlines ten strategic actions MRUs can adopt to become dynamic partners in the school turnaround movement. These strategies include the establishment of urban-focused centers, cross-sector partnerships, expanded program offerings, and direct service to school districts. Framed by a personal narrative rooted in the academic decline of his own high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this work underscores the moral and institutional imperative for MRUs to leverage their research capacity and community influence to disrupt cycles of failure. This model, when implemented, can provide educational equity and new hope for students in America’s most underserved urban schools. The blueprint serves as both a call to action and a practical roadmap to transform how higher education institutions support public K-12 education.