Our children are our nation’s most valuable resource. And we can’t afford to let a single one slip through the cracks.

All students are capable of learning and succeeding—yet many aren’t given the chance. Too often, education systems expect less of students based on their race, ethnicity or household income. Yet all students can succeed when we stop excusing failure and start providing students with equitable opportunities to learn and excel.

What education policies improve student outcomes?

High-performing states focus on:

• Early literacy instruction aligned to the science of reading
• Access to advanced math pathways
• Strong accountability systems
• Career-connected learning opportunities

Are U.S. students falling behind?

• U.S. students rank 27th internationally in math (PISA)
• 67% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading (NAEP)
• 70% of first-year community college students need remedial help; 40% at 4-year colleges need the same (NCES)

What state education policy solutions are most effective?

• Embracing higher standards and accountability
• Prioritizing early literacy and numeracy with teacher training, high-quality instructional materials and intervention programs
• Empowering parents and families with public and private school choice opportunities
• Improving technical infrastructure and providing necessary resources to close the digital divide
• Creating high-quality education-to-workforce pathways aligned with job market demand
• Strengthening the teacher pipeline and teacher retention