Education in the Spotlight

Finally, the major presidential candidates have started talking about education. In a major speech last week, Sen. Barack Obama said that he wants to double funding for charter schools, pay teachers based on performance, and create a new $500 million matching fund for technology in the classroom.

 

Among Sen. John McCain's proposals are bonus pay for teachers who raise student achievement or who take jobs in hard-to-staff schools, an expansion of after-school tutoring, and new federal support for online schools.

 

Regardless of who you support for president--the U.S. Chamber is neutral--it's gratifying that the candidates are giving serious thought to what should be a central issue in the campaign. The U.S. Chamber has its own ideas on how to improve our K–12 education system.

 

First, we can think of few more urgent challenges than preparing our students to compete in a worldwide economy. The nations that do the best job of educating their children and attracting talent will succeed. Those that don't, won't.

 

How can any of us stand by as more than one-fourth of all 9th graders and one-half of minorities do not graduate from high school in four years? When our kids are falling behind in math and science? And when we spend more than just about any other country on education and get such dismal returns on our investment?

 

Second, we believe that teaching must focus on results. Pay for performance should be the standard. We should raise salaries for first-time teachers to bring better talent into the schools. We should have commonsense certification requirements for private sector professionals who want to teach.

 

Third, we need to collect more data so that we can accurately measure results--for students and teachers. We need more rigorous academic standards, and states must be more truthful about whether or not they are meeting them.

 

Fourth, innovation. If history has taught us anything, it's that nations, organizations, and individuals that adapt and innovate are the most successful.

 

Although American public schools are filled with many great teachers, dedicated principals, and involved parents, this nation should be embarrassed--yes, embarrassed--at the inexcusable record of mediocrity and failure we have inflicted on millions of our children.

 

Unless we turn the education situation around, we will pay a terrible price--not just in dollars and cents and global competitiveness but in the broken dreams of our children.

 

The status quo is unacceptable. Education must be a top priority for the nation. We're going to help make certain that it is and will work with anyone in either party who supports our goals.