America's failing grades?

http://www.air.org/news/documents/Release200511math.htm

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We've Lost Our Way

http://www.uschamber.com/press/speeches/2007/071205_education.htm

Despite its fundamental importance to our society and way of life, we've lost our way on education. Today, everyone utters all the necessary platitudes about the importance of education. You might even say I've just done so myself! But our deeds no longer match our rhetoric. Over many years, we have allowed a creeping mediocrity to invade the quality of our public schools.

Of course, there are many excellent ones, with outstanding teachers, engaged parents, and nose-to-the-grindstone students. We celebrate them and recognize their achievements. But dangerous trends have taken hold nationwide that should not only worry us but also scare us … and even shame us.

High school graduation rates remain appallingly low. Only about two-thirds of all 9th graders graduate from high school in four years--it's only half for minorities. Those students who do receive diplomas often require remedial education. Many are unprepared for postsecondary education or the modern workforce. 

Some states have chosen to dumb down their academic standards in order to achieve proficiency even as our international competitors have toughened theirs. Today, U.S. fourth graders rank 11th in the world in reading; in 2001, they ranked 4th. We are also lagging in key subjects like math and science--skills essential to succeeding in the global, high-tech economy.

In 2003, U.S. 15 year-olds ranked 19th in science and 24th in math. And we are headed in the wrong direction. We've dropped five places in both subjects since 2001.

We get these results despite spending more on education than practically any other country.

Our students spend fewer hours in class than most of our international competitors. By age 18, students in many foreign countries will have received one to three years more class time than U.S. students. Talk about a competitive disadvantage!

And through lax management, poor oversight, and plain apathy, we have allowed schools to mismanage funds, facilities, and professional development; to hire and retain ineffective teachers; and to forgo collecting the data necessary to measure and track results. We cannot afford to lag behind as the rest of the world races ahead. The world will not stop and wait while our students catch up.

It's perfectly clear that the toughest, most important competitive race in the 21st century worldwide economy will be the global race for talent and workers. You can see this in industry after industry, from sector to sector. The question is the same all over the world: How are we going to find, train, and keep the best workers?

It's very simple--the nations that do the best job educating their children and attracting talent will succeed. Those that don't, won't.

Ninety percent of the fastest-growing jobs in our new economy will require some postsecondary education. The Department of Labor estimates that by 2014 there will be close to 4 million new job openings in health care, education, and computer and mathematical sciences.

Our kids are increasingly unprepared, as is our nation. Seventy-seven million baby boomers will begin retiring next year, leading to significant worker shortages. That means we must not only improve education but also keep baby boomers in the workforce beyond traditional retirement ages.

Unless we turn the education situation around, we will pay a terrible price. America will go from economic superpower to an also-ran. Our high standard of living will erode like sand in a pounding surf. We will lose jobs, productivity, and, eventually, hope. The social fabric that holds our nation together will begin to unravel. Our failure will be measured not only in dollars and cents but in broken dreams.

It's not difficult to comprehend the consequences of inaction. We know that high school dropouts are at greater risk of committing crimes, being imprisoned, and relying on public assistance. In fact, 75% of state prison inmates and 59% of federal inmates are high-school dropouts. We know they are less healthy and die younger. We know that their opportunities, income, and employability are limited.

Of those who do graduate from high school, many are not being equipped with the skills and knowledge they'll need to succeed. Many are unable to think critically, solve basic problems, or follow directions.

Put simply, we are falling dangerously behind.

Americans know this. Businesses know this. Parents--especially those of limited means who are counting on the schools to break generational cycles of poverty-know this. And they are rising up in revolt--and it's about time!

More Readings:

RAND STUDY HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES FACING MIDDLE SCHOOLS

A Comparison of Hong Kong and United States Schools