The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
How Schools and After-School Programs Can Collaborate to Support Academic Alignment
English Summary
The RAND report argues that achieving academic alignment between school-day instruction and after-school programs (ASPs) is critical for maximizing student learning outcomes, yet national data shows fewer than half of schools currently maintain this coherence. Evidence suggests alignment is more likely when ASPs are managed by internal school or district staff, particularly in secondary, urban, and high-poverty settings. For policy strategy, the findings imply that educational leaders must prioritize establishing formal collaborative structures—such as shared resources and dedicated liaisons—to ensure ASPs provide targeted academic support that deliberately reinforces core curriculum goals.
中文摘要
這份蘭德報告（RAND）指出，實現課堂教學與課後活動課程（ASPs）之間的學術一致性，對於最大化學生學習成效至關重要。然而，國家數據顯示，目前少於半數的學校能維持這種連貫性。證據表明，當課後活動由校內或學區人員管理時，達成一致性的可能性更高，尤其是在中學、都會區和高貧困率地區。從政策策略的角度來看，研究結果暗示教育領導者必須優先建立正式的協作結構——例如共享資源和專職聯絡人——以確保課後活動能提供有針對性的學術支持，並刻意強化核心課程目標。
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