Every Year, thousands of American children enter school already behind. Although most Americans are aware of that fact, what they often don't know, is that instead of organizing our educational systems to make things better for these children, we organize systems of public education in ways that make things worse. This report is unique among…

The nation's governors have put high school reform at the top of their agendas, charging their association--the National Governors Association--with energizing a multi-year effort to overhaul high school education. Across the country, reformers are stepping forward with new high school "designs" aimed at preparing students for the challenges of…

All children are entitled to a solid education in the United States. There is a good reason for this: For generations, education has been the most reliable path to a better life. A good education offers a better quality of life, including access to good jobs and careers. Getting a good education is even more important today than in the past as…

In recent years, a consensus has emerged on the need to improve America's high schools, especially for students who struggle academically. At every level--from the federal government to the local school board--policymakers are proposing new initiatives to raise standards while helping more students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for…

The only way to ensure that all young people graduate from high school ready for college, work, and life is through the concerted, coordinated efforts of educators, students, policymakers, parents, and business and community leaders. People need to take stock of what they know about high schools--about what students need, what schools should be…

Since the release of the 1998 publication "Good Teaching Matters," the colleagues at the Education Trust have been asked to make hundreds of presentations around the country on the difference that teachers make. Virtually everywhere, the response is the same: heads nod in agreement. Almost nobody, it seems, disputes the importance of effective…

Implementation of the "No Child Left Behind Act" for the first time, required states to hold every school and district accountable to the same standards of academic performance, standards that apply to all students, including the low-income and minority students who have been traditionally underserved. Because states must report their progress to…