Aspen Institute Launches Rising Generations Strategy Group to Chart a Bold, Future-Ready Vision for American Education
Co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and former U.S. Senator Richard Burr, the cross-partisan group brings together leaders and young people to shape a shared vision for the future of education.
Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026 — For more than seven decades, the Aspen Institute has served as one of the nation’s most trusted spaces for leaders to come together across perspectives, away from the spotlight, beyond partisan lines, and focused on solving complex, long-term challenges. Through its diverse strategy groups, the Institute has convened senior leaders, practitioners, and thinkers from around the world to engage in candid dialogue that informs action, shapes policy, and drives durable change.
Today, the Aspen Institute builds on that legacy with the launch of the Rising Generations Strategy Group (RGSG), a new, action-focused advisory body bringing together leaders across education, government, community development, business, philanthropy, and youth leadership to help chart a forward-ready vision for America’s education system and the rising generation. Organized within the Education & Society Program at the Aspen Institute, a program of the Center for Rising Generations (CRG), the RGSG was intentionally designed to bring together leaders across political perspectives and generations and to include youth representatives as full participants in shaping the work. The group will work over the coming year to develop recommendations that strengthen education systems, expand opportunity, and prepare young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The Rising Generations Strategy Group (RGSG) will be co-chaired by Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Governor of Rhode Island, and Richard Burr, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina. Their partnership reflects the cross-partisan foundation of the RGSG and the belief that preparing young people for the future must transcend political lines. Having led at both the state and federal levels, Raimondo and Burr bring complementary perspectives shaped by economic policy, workforce development, and public service across diverse communities. Together, they underscore a shared national reality that while education systems vary across regions, the need to better prepare young people for the opportunities and challenges ahead is universal.
“Artificial intelligence is changing what skills are needed and what jobs will be available,” said Secretary Raimondo. “We need to rethink how education systems coordinate with employers, so graduates have a clear path to good, AI-resilient jobs. That effort requires all of us – both sides of the aisle, education leaders, private sector, and young people – to come together to develop bold and innovative solutions.”
“Education is one of the most important investments a country can make in its future,” former Senator Burr shared. “The Rising Generations Strategy Group is an opportunity to step back from politics and focus on practical, long-term solutions that help young people succeed and strengthen our nation.”
The leadership of Raimondo and Burr reflects the Strategy Group’s commitment to bringing together leaders across political perspectives to focus on solutions that serve young people and the country as a whole. The creation of the RGSG comes amid a dramatically changing education landscape and the need for a more cohesive national vision, with recent indicators including the release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress data in fall 2025 showing that nearly half of America’s 12th graders struggle with basic math skills and one-third with reading. These are startling findings that serve as a clear signal of long-standing challenges in student preparedness, workforce readiness, and national competitiveness.
“The latest NAEP results are a warning sign, but they are also a direct call to action,” said Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Executive Director of the Education & Society Program at the Aspen Institute. “For far too long, urgent education realities appear in the headlines for a moment and then fade from view. Our young people deserve more than reactive conversations and cyclical reforms. They deserve a shared, long-term vision and education systems designed to prepare them for the future they are entering.”
Building on the Aspen Institute’s long-standing role in shaping national dialogue on education and leadership, the Rising Generations Strategy Group reflects a new chapter bringing together diverse voices from across the country to address the challenges and opportunities facing America’s youth.
The RGSG is composed of leaders representing K-12 and higher education, youth development, technology, business, policy, research, and philanthropy, along with students and young adult leaders whose lived experience will play a central role in shaping the group’s work.
Over the next year, the group will focus on four priority commitments:
- Technology + Education: Harnessing technology, including artificial intelligence, to expand opportunity and empower educators.
- Career-Connected Learning: Aligning classroom learning with real-world experiences that prepare students for meaningful work and civic contribution.
- School Choice + Alternative Models: Exploring innovative school designs that meet the diverse needs of students and families.
- State Governance: Advancing bold approaches to state education governance that foster coherence, accountability, and innovation.
“Effective systems require strong design, broad support, and inclusive leadership,” said Jackson. “The RGSG represents a rare opportunity to bring together leaders who may not always agree politically or philosophically, but who share a commitment to ensuring that the rising generations have every opportunity to thrive.”
With the American education system facing persistent gaps in student readiness, shifting workforce demands, and emerging global competition, the Aspen Institute sees 2026 as a pivotal moment for reimagining what young people need to succeed.
“Education sits at the heart of America’s economic strength, civic health, and global leadership,” said Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President, Aspen Institute and Executive Director, Center for Rising Generations. “If we want the next generation to lead us forward, we must build systems aligned to the world they are inheriting, not the one we grew up in.”
The Rising Generations Strategy Group will convene for its first in-person meeting in July 2026 at the Aspen Meadows campus in Aspen, Colorado. Over the course of the year, the group will develop a shared agenda and release recommendations designed to support policymakers, education leaders, employers, and communities.
A full list of RGSG members, including biographies and organizational affiliations, is available at: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/education-and-society-program/rising-generations-strategy-group/.
About the Education & Society Program
One of the policy programs of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute, the Education & Society Program improves public education by inspiring, informing, and influencing education leaders across policy and practices, with an emphasis on achieving excellence for all students. For more information about the Education & Society program, visit https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/education-and-society-program/.
About the Center for Rising Generations
The Center for Rising Generations (CRG) at the Aspen Institute is committed to uplifting, investing in, and working alongside young people to share a more vibrant, connected, and creative future. Through storytelling, community engagement, leadership development, and cross-sector gatherings, CRG amplifies the power and potential of rising generations to drive impact in their communities and beyond. For more information, visit: www.risinggenerations.org.
About the Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
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