In the 2016 presidential primaries, Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders argued that college should be tuition-free. Sanders’ position garnered a lot of political traction, but what are the arguments for this position, and are those sound, compelling arguments? Hard-fought social and legal battles have, over time, interpreted and advanced the nation’s understanding of what a good (enough) education involves, as well as broadened educational access. Controversy lingers, however. Central to debates about free college, for example, are questions about the role, and value, of higher education in our society today. Indeed, at the core of many of the contemporary issues in educational reform lies deep disagreement about what education is for, and about the nature and role of a public education. Fundamental questions include: Who is entitled to an education, and to what sort of an education? Who has proper authority over the character and distribution of education: parents, the state (through school boards and public school teachers), or children themselves? How should educational opportunities be distributed? Clarity on the fundamental values and purposes of education is necessary for answering questions like these, and for understanding and addressing specific issues like racial achievement gaps, school privatization and the voucher movement, and standards and testing programs.