Educators act as advocates every day, and an advocate's greatest tool is credible information. The College Board and the Alliance for Excellent Education are pleased to announce a series of jointly produced fact sheets intended to arm educators and others with information they can use in advocating for their students, professions, and institutions. This inaugural issue provides an overview on education in the United States, laying a foundation for a more in-depth examination of specific issues that will begin in September 2008 and continue on a monthly basis in Connection through the 2008-2009 school year.