When you bring together thinkers from left and right — from Kevin Carey of Education Sector to Neal McCluskey of Cato — to discuss the federal government’s role (if any) in mandating “student learning outcomes,” you have the potential for clashes. But there’s also the potential for dialogue. We came up with the latter in a refreshing discussion initiated by the Pope Center. The first installment was posted today. I don’t know how this debate will affect others, but the dialogue (and the in-person conversations preceding it) completely transformed my strategy for improving higher education. (Neal McCluskey and economist Michael Rizzo can be proud.)