Public education in the United States has a bad reputation—in the US, that is. A somewhat different picture emerges when the American public school is compared to educational systems of other nations around the globe. Based on two international large-scale studies and research at the University of Michigan, this talk illustrates the strengths of American public schools that are often forgotten in the public debate.

Kai S. Cortina is Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Michigan. His major research areas include learning motivation in school, improving teaching practice, and the long-term effects of schooling over the life course. As an expert in quantitative methods, he was repeatedly involved in international studies on school achievement and student learning.

This program is part of the "Exploring the Mind" series and is a partnership with The University of Michigan Department of Psychology.