A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Center for American Progress have come together for the first time with a shared sense of urgency to address a looming educational crisis that—if not addressed promptly and effectively—risks undermining the economic prosperity of future generations of Americans.

THE CONCLUSION
We need to fundamentally rethink how we provide education in the U.S.


THE PROBLEM
Nationwide, only about one-third of 4th and 8th graders— and well less than 20 percent of low-income and minority children—are proficient in reading and math.

Traditional approaches to education reform have done little to improve overall academic performance in our nation’s public schools. Despite steps to increase per pupil spending, decrease student-teacher ratios, and recruit a better-prepared teaching force, student test scores have remained stubbornly flat over the past 35 years.

Seventy-seven million baby boomers will begin to leave the workforce over the next 10 years. Who will take their place?

There is ample evidence, documented in detail in our new state-by-state report card on educational effectiveness, that too many of our nation’s schools and students are unprepared for the demands of the 21st century’s knowledge-based economy

But without action the alternative will be deteriorating schools, undereducated children, broken communities, and declining economic fortune for this country.

THE FOCUS
We have focused on the core structural changes that follow most directly from the findings in our report card

OUR GOAL
Our goal is straightforward: to create the opportunity for every child to achieve the American dream. We seek to develop an educated citizenry of self-sufficient, lifelong learners who have the skills needed to thrive in the workplace, today and in the future.

THE SOLUTION
But by focusing on our four core goals—better teaching, more innovation, better data, and better management—the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Center for American Progress will devote our energies to key reforms that our organizations are well positioned to champion.

We believe that the following reforms are urgently needed:

1. Better Teaching
2. More Innovation
3. Better Data
4. Better Management

Interactive materials: Interactive map showing state-by-state grades
A Joint Platform for Education Reform

View the full joint platform (PDF)

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