The Future Federal Role: Observations and Ideas Author: Christopher T. Cross

During his 32 years in Washington, D.C., Christopher T. Cross has been a close observer of the evolution of the federal role in K-12 public education. In an excerpt from his new book, Political Education: National Policy Comes of Age (Teachers College Press), the Senior Fellow at the Center for Education Policy and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Education Commission of the States discusses new ways the federal government is poised to shape policy in K-12 education. In this excerpt, Policy Perspectives presents Cross discussing (1) the federal directions already established, (2) potential new federal policies, (3) factors that will influence federal policy, (4) what will not happen within the coming decade, and (5) what remains that requires attention. Cross concludes with a discussion of congressional organization and how it affects schools.