The United States has long been a world leader in education, innovation, high-tech employment, and research and development (R&D). Its future status, however, is not secure. This is the conclusion of more than two dozen reports in recent years from a variety of groups of business leaders, educators and government officials. In this article, the author determines why U.S. leadership in education, innovation, high-tech employment and R&D is in jeopardy--with particularly significant implications for technology-oriented New England.