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The 1990 World Cup in Italy marked the first time in 40 years that the U.S. Men’s National Team played in soccer’s biggest international tournament.

Over the last two decades, the U.S. has played in every World Cup since, and draws in record ratings as many Americans rediscover their newfound interest in soccer every four years.

And during that time, some American soccer players such as Landon Donovan or Alexi Lalas have become more or less household names. Based on the absolutely ankle-shattering move to facilitate the first goal against Ghana in the US opening match, Clint Dempsey is probably next in line.

Like American interest in soccer, education reform policies have also taken shape over the last couple of decades, from the increasing popularity in opportunity scholarship programs, https://staging.edreform.com/2013/12/americas-attitudes-towards-education-reform-public-support-for-accountability-in-schools/ to the increased foothold of charter schools. While parental interest in their child’s education is nothing new, parents and community members have taken a newfound consideration in how these new innovations can boost opportunities for students.

As the U.S. team and individual players continue to gain traction in the eyes of the American public, so have large and small charter operators and school choice movements across the states. https://staging.edreform.com/in-the-states/map/

Many Americans view the game of soccer as a slog. It’s a drawn out, seemingly futile exercise that stays the same for most of the time, with intermittent bursts of excitement and success.

Those who have tried — and continue to try – to create choice and accountability in schools can likely relate to the sentiment that comes with efforts of trying to shake up an otherwise static system.

Soccer and education share a common notorious bond in the sense that both contain an inordinate amount of players who flop and then feign injury to gain unfair advantages against those who flat out play better.

Supporters of the toxic California tenure policies overturned in Vergara v. California https://staging.edreform.com/2014/06/california-court-affirms-student-rights/ amount to the Oscar-worthy World Cup competitor who writhes on the ground for a nonexistent injury.

U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has said the squad is still in building mode, but has high expectations for the future.

Education Reformers could say the same.