Learning to write is critical in today's world, yet many students are not developing the writing abilities they need to use writing as a powerful tool for learning and for showing what they know. Research indicates that failure to acquire strong writing abilities restricts opportunities for both post-secondary education and employment. This article addresses why writing is important and its place in the Common Core State Standards, factors that contribute to the poor writing performance of so many of our students, and how we can develop strong writers across the grades. The focus of the article is Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD), an evidence-based approach supported by a long-standing body of research meeting stringent standards that clearly indicates significant improvements in student achievement. The article includes resources for readers who wish to learn more, as well as a description of effective professional development in SRSD. (Contains 1 table.)