Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonprofit organization supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that seeks to promote sound education policies for all Americans. Through its “ED in 08” information and nonpartisan advocacy campaign, it sought to inspire a debate about America’s schools and to make education a top priority in the 2008 presidential election.[1]
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Roy Romer, the former governor of Colorado and a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, serves as chairman of the organization. Marc S. Lampkin, the deputy campaign manager for the 2000 Bush-Cheney presidential campaign, acts as the executive director.
| Strong American Schools / ED in 08 Steering Committee |
|---|
| Roy Romer
Chairman |
| Eli Broad
Founder, The Broad Foundations |
| Allan Golston
President of U.S. Program, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Janet Murguía
President and CEO, National Council of La Raza |
| Louis Gerstner
Former CEO of IBM |
| John Engler
Former Governor of Michigan |
| Marc Lampkin
Executive Director |
The stated goal of the campaign is to achieve nationwide debate on education reform during which every presidential candidate addresses three priorities for improving education:
- Agreeing on American education standards
- Providing effective teachers in every classroom
- Giving students more time and support for learning[2]
Strong American Schools states that it plans to run its information campaign like a presidential campaign, but does not support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.
The Broad and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations have committed up to $60 million to fund the effort.[3]
Strong American Schools and the ED in 08 campaign are the successors to the STAND UP campaign launched in 2006.
Strong American Schools/ED in 08 currently has a small headquarters staff in Washington, DC. There are field offices in Manchester, NH and in Des Moines, IA.
United States Presidential Election, 2008