We like to tout our superiority in such areas as economics, productivity and health. But when it comes to education, we have nothing to brag about on the world front.
Various surveys show American children are learning less compared to their global counterparts.
We stack up poorly compared to other developed nations and even some developing countries are gaining on us. Some state surveys show literacy and basic math competence have slipped so badly they are only acquired by the minority of students. This issue has not only become a political football, it has also offered entrepreneurs an opportunity to try good old Yankee ingenuity. Private schools and public school management companies have been launched by Michael Milken, Christopher Whittle and other businessmen turned educators. In most cases, these innovators want to prove their success by touting improved test scores.