In this article, the author describes three reports conducted by the National Academies, a private, nonprofit organization whose charter is to assist the federal government and the American people in analyzing pressing science and technology policy issues. These reports are: (1) "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future" (National Academy of Sciences [NAS] et al., 2005); (2) "Systems for State Science Assessment" (NRC, 2005b); and (3) "America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science" (NRC, 2005a). The reports offer recommendations about ways to improve students' knowledge and skills in science. (Contains 3 figures, 1 table and 5 footnotes.)