For as long as America has had formal education, the need for educational reform has existed alongside it as there is an ultimate goal of serving all students fairly and effectively. Can the reform achieve this goal? What characteristics are desired in a good school, and how can educational reform cause more schools to reach this level of performance? According to Arthur W. Foshay, author of The Curriculum Matrix: Transcendence and Mathematics, “The one continuous purpose of education, since ancient times, has been to bring people to the fullest possible realization of what it means to be a human being . . Other educational purpose statements have also been widely accepted: developing the intellect, meeting social needs, contributing to the economy, creating an effective workforce, preparing students for a job or career, promoting a particular social or political interest. system” (“What is the purpose of education”). The goal of the school, in fact, is to improve the educational system so that student success is maximized through the effectiveness of its teachers and administrators. To this end, school reform ranges from grassroots, community-level efforts, to national, government-run reform such as the current Race to the Top policy under which schools, districts, and states are held accountable for student achievement and educational effectiveness (“Race to the Top Assessment Program”). Race to the Top is a nationwide educational reform movement with the goal of raising standards that challenge students to be better prepared for college and the workplace.Additionally, Race to the Top aims to improve data-driven curricula and provide new strategies to help struggling schools.President Obama, committed to the future of America's children... middle of paper ... t resources in all American schools rather than just in affluent, high-achieving demographic areas. That way, all schools can be the place where students learn about academics and how to contribute positively to society. Schools exert a powerful influence on students and therefore represent a critical issue for America's future. When students are given the opportunity to learn, society as a whole benefits from their contributions to the world. As education research has shown, schools can have the greatest influence on their students through educational reforms like Race to The Top that supports schools working together to prepare students for college and the world of work. By adhering to this rigorous reform agenda, the American education system can successfully equip students with the skills they need to function effectively in society.