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Ten years ago, the U.S. ranked first in percentage of 25-34 year olds with at least a bachelor's degree. By 2006, we had dropped to ninth place. Out of 30 countries participating in a 2006 assessment, America's 15-year-olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science. The economic security of our children is at risk. As the next president of the United States, you must make improving our nation’s schools a top priority.
The federal government has the resources to help states create a plan of action that will even the playing field with the top-performing countries in today's flat and digitized world. I would advise that in your first 100 days of office, you call together the governors and state education leaders to begin the discussion of what transformations must take place to ensure our children are prepared to compete in a global economy.
I believe that any education plan needs to include three elements that hold strong promise for strengthening our K-12 schools:
1) American education standards that are benchmarked against the 10 best nations in the world. Regardless of where they live, all students need to acquire knowledge and skills that prepare them for college, for the workplace, and for life. From Maine to Mississippi or New Hampshire to Nevada, every student deserves common, rigorous standards. Americans know that common standards make common sense., Mr. President. A survey conducted this year found that 69 percent of the American public supports one test and one set of standards for all students.
2) Effective teachers in every classroom. Teachers are the single greatest "natural resource" in education; yet, we do not treat them as such. We need to enable teachers to improve their skills, measure teachers" performance in the classroom, and pay them more if they produce superior results or take on hard-to-staff positions.
3) More time and support for learning. If we are going to demand more from our students—and teachers—it is our obligation to give them the time they need to succeed. This will require redesigning the school day or school calendar. We must act now to give successful and struggling students alike more time for in-depth learning, personal attention, and enrichment. And we must provide teachers more time to work together to improve learning. The time and support we provide America's students should match the high aspirations we have for them.
Now is the time for America to work together to solve our problems. Just as Americans worked together under the leadership of President Kennedy to bring a man to the moon, we need the next president to make education a priority and offer bold solutions to improve our schools and ensure the security of our children's futures.
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