Some form of state and national standards is needed to set clear benchmarks of what students should know and be able to do. The simple conclusion is that we need comprehensive reform of K-12 education to raise performance levels and to reduce the disparities in academic preparation documented above. And we do. Some form of state and national standards is surely needed to set clear benchmarks of what students should know and be able to do.
Current expectations are often too low.
We have noted that students who took algebra and geometry were much more likely to take higher-level courses and enroll in college. Yet only 28 states currently require algebra and geometry for high school graduation. Safety nets must be put in place to ensure a supportive environment for learning. Neither, surely, can all the problems of educational failure be laid at the schoolhouse doors. What happens to kids during non-school time is at least as important as what happens in school.