Washington, D.C. — Education is the cornerstone of American prosperity. Yet in too many places across the country, leaders have chosen to score political points rather than focus on the real crisis facing our education system: the stark national decline in children’s ability to read, write, and do math. But states including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana have shown the rest of the country that we can reverse those trends if we prioritize what works—teaching the fundamentals and providing evidence-based instruction—and reform our K–12 education system for the 21st century.
For Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, refocusing American education on outcomes over politics isn’t just an economic necessity; it’s a moral imperative. As mayor of Chicago, he pushed for greater school accountability and increased instruction time, raising the high school graduation rate by more than 30 percentage points and sending nearly two-thirds of low-income children to college. Ambassador Emanuel believes that we’re facing a Sputnik moment in education—and our leaders need to meet the challenge.
Please join the Center for American Progress for a conversation with Ambassador Emanuel moderated by CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden. This event is part of CAP’s flagship speaker series, “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward,” which brings leaders to CAP to offer their ideas on how to respond to this moment.
WHO:
Special Guest:
Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. ambassador to Japan and former mayor of Chicago
Moderator:
Neera Tanden, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST
WHERE:
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
To join the virtual audience, please RSVP here.
For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].