Eager to Learn, Denied the Opportunity. That's Wrong!

All of the things I have written about over the last five months have one thing in common: Giving our students the best preparation for life that we as a society can.

That's why we talk about getting effective teachers into every classroom and providing enough time and resources for every student to learn. And standards are not just to make life difficult for kids in school - it's to make sure that they leave school prepared.

I guess we could sum it up by saying we want to give every student in America the opportunity to come out of school prepared for college or work, but also certainly for his or her life ahead.


A new report landed on my desk that contains findings that could easily discourage us, but I'm determined to make it energize myself to keep pushing the overall ED in 08 message.


The report is entitled, "Achievement Trap" and it comes from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation & Civic Enterprises. In a nutshell, it says that our schools are failing some of our brightest students because they come from poor families. The Cooke Foundation estimates there are as many as 3.4 million bright young people who could excel, but don't have the opportunity.


Front-line educators know this. I saw it first hand as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified Public Schools.


The report says in part:

There are far fewer lower-income students achieving at the highest levels than there should be, they disproportionately fall out of the high-achieving group during elementary and high school, they rarely rise into the ranks of high achievers during those periods, and, perhaps most disturbingly, far too few ever graduate from college or go on to graduate school. Unless something is done, many more of America's brightest lower-income students will meet this same educational fate, robbing them of opportunity and our nation of a valuable resource.

So we have children who want to learn and who have the ability to learn; what they lack is the opportunity.


This must change. Our nation doesn't have "resources" to waste. But more than that, America should be opening doors for our youngsters, not closing them. How can we allow this tragedy to continue? It is a tremendous shame for America and our leaders.


Our presidential candidates must know this. And they must start articulating how they will deal with our schools and the challenges our students and teachers and educators face. This is a No. 1 priority!