Our schools are failing the next generation of Americans. The United States leads the world in school spending but lags far behind when it comes to results. Every school day, about 7,000 students decide to drop out of school – a total of 1.2 million students each year – and only about 70% of entering high school freshman graduate every year. Without a high school diploma, young people are less likely to succeed in the workforce.
(1) Bring the best teachers to the neediest schools. The most important thing is to bring to K-12 education college graduates who excel in math and science. Attract talent and reward excellence.
(2) Focus on "new economy" skills. In addition to the usual core subjects, focus on developing critical thinking, decision-making, innovation and technology skills.