Image

The Education Revolution
Has Begun

Image

The Education Revolution
Has Begun

We’re Entering a New ERA in Education.


Our children enter adulthood at 18, often unprepared for the real-life challenges and opportunities beyond high school. American education, fixated on generic benchmarks and "teaching to the test," fails to equip them for life’s true tests.

While students learn "the three Rs" (Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic), education around the fourth and most critical R — Reality — is sorely lacking.

We need a revolution.

The Revolution


The Education Revolution Association (ERA) envisions a future in which, by the age of 18, every student:

  • Understands their strengths/weaknesses — and how to leverage and navigate them in adulthood.
  • Identifies their best-fit career options — and knows how to pursue them.
  • Achieves their maximum educational potential — advancing at a pace tailored to their unique aptitudes and abilities.
  • Has a practical understanding of life — prepared with knowledge and insight for any path they choose.
  • Embraces kindness — recognizing and valuing others' differences.
  • Undergoes a journey of self-discovery — achieving an objective view of themselves while cultivating confidence and self-love.

Join the Revolution
Photo of a trio of young people hiking at sunset. All are wearing backpacks, and the young woman in the middle is being helped up by the young man at the top of the climb and the young woman below her.
Photo of a trio of young people hiking at sunset. All are wearing backpacks, and the young woman in the middle is being helped up by the young man at the top of the climb and the young woman below her.

The Revolution


The Education Revolution Association (ERA) envisions a future in which, by the age of 18, every student:


  • Understands their strengths/weaknesses — and how to leverage and navigate them in adulthood.
  • Identifies their best-fit career options — and knows how to pursue them.
  • Achieves their maximum educational potential — advancing at a pace tailored to their unique aptitudes and abilities.
  • Has a practical understanding of life — prepared with knowledge and insight for any path they choose.
  • Embraces kindness — recognizing and valuing others' differences.
  • Undergoes a journey of self-discovery — achieving an objective view of themselves while cultivating confidence and self-love.

Join the Revolution
Photo of a young girl bored in school — waiting for the Education Revolution!

The Challenge


Our educational system is essentially stuck in a paradigm established in the 1890s. While there have been vast social and psychological strides made since, these have largely been ignored by American education.


Despite numerous studies and initiatives advocating for change, their impact has been limited by the fragmented nature of the approach. Educational foundations across the nation work toward change — but rarely unite under a common goal.


The Education Revolution Has Begun.


Modernize Education
Photo of a young girl bored in school — waiting for the Education Revolution!

The Challenge


Our educational system is essentially stuck in a paradigm established in the 1890s. While there have been vast social and psychological strides made since, these have largely been ignored by American education.


Despite numerous studies and initiatives advocating for change, their impact has been limited by the fragmented nature of the approach. Educational foundations across the nation work toward change — but rarely unite under a common goal.


The Education Revolution Has Begun.


Modernize Education

The Proposition


ERA proposes to unite school systems, educational foundations, government officials and students around three core pillars:


ERA Pillars: Self-Discovery (icon of a human silhouette in a magnifying glass)
Self & Career Discovery
ERA Pillars: Acceptance (icon of two hands shaking)
Acceptance of Others
ERA Pillars: Individual Potential (icon of a person climbing up columns toward a flag at the top)
Maximizing Individual Potential

We recognize that transforming the educational landscape will not happen overnight. With pilot programs in two states for the 2024-2025 school year, our goal is to realize short-term results in our sample districts by June 2025 — and then continue to expand our sphere of support from there.

By uniting decision-makers and influencers and focusing on a shared, holistic vision, we can leverage our collective resources, expertise and programs to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of the American K–12 education system.


We have the studies, resources, tools and organizations in place to implement an end-to-end program to fully transform education in America.


All we need is your support.

Why Cowboy Hats?


ERA founder Fred Ode has never been one to follow the rules. Passionate about blazing a new frontier in education, ERA is determined to do whatever it takes to improve the system. (Read more about Fred's story in his letter.)


ERA has adopted the cowboy hat as a symbol of creativity and perseverance — and our commitment to a better future for all students.


Join the Revolution
painted bust portrait of Fred Ode in a cowboy hat with orange paint streaks behind him

ERA Founder Fred Ode

We’ve Joined the Education Revolution

"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a bearded man in a cowboy hat
"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a blonde woman with straight hair in a cowboy hat
"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a bearded man wearing sunglasses and a cowboy hat
"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a young woman with curly blonde hair wearing a cowboy hat
"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a young bearded man wearing a cowboy hat
"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a young woman with a pierced lip and crimped red hair wearing a cowboy hat
"We've Joined the Education Revolution" — photo of a man with a tight beard wearing a cowboy hat
    illustration of an orange megaphone making an announcement

    Join the Revolution


    We stand at the threshold of a monumental shift. With the foundation, resources and commitment already in place, all that's missing is your support.

    Join the Education Revolution. Reshape American education for generations to come.


    Join the Revolution