Realities, Challenges & Opportunities

1. Our educational system is in crisis and it requires urgent attention.

2. This educational crisis is challenging our competitiveness on the global stage and limiting the opportunities of our young people, particularly poor and minority students.

3. Our economic health, national security, and democratic institutions depend on well-educated citizens.

4. Our future prosperity and leadership in the world will be determined by our response to this educational crisis and our steadfast commitment to implementing solutions. American public education MUST meet the needs of ALL our children and respond to our nation’s growing diversity.

5. The most successful state education reform efforts led to the development of the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. This law represented a sea change in education with its commitment to high standards for all students. In the last six years, we have seen real improvements in student performance, yet we still have a long way to go. We must quicken the pace of reform.

6. The states, districts and schools that have embraced the core elements of reform are seeing remarkable progress. Their commitment to effective teachers and school leaders and measurable, high expectations for all students is making a significant difference.

7. We must renew our support for these effective principles of education reform – accountability for results, transparency, and measurable, high expectations for all students – and develop a broad public consensus to act. We must establish our common ground and join together to chart the additional bold steps necessary to quicken the pace of reform. We must mobilize and sustain the support necessary to create a public education system that meets the needs of every student and assures a more hopeful and prosperous future.

The crisis is real. Join the live web cast (www.aspeninstitute.org/urgentcall) of the National Education Summit and add your voice and perspective to this important and timely conversation through the blog (www.aspenedsummit.blogspot.com).