• 09.29.2008

    Letters to the editor

    Letters to the editor 2008 09 29 A recent study released by Strong American Schools, an education advocacy group, reveals that this problem of college unpreparedness is far greater than previously thought. More than one out of three college

  • 09.27.2008

    Schools should reduce need for remedial learning

    Schools should reduce need for remedial learning 2008 09 27 Bob taft from the Columbus Dispatch says, The lie is that, while we tell our kids a high school diploma means they are prepared for college, the truth is

  • 09.17.2008

    OPINION: Unprepared: The problem of high-school graduates

    Gov. Roy Romer writes for the National Review Online, "We must put in place exacting standards that expect the best from our students. If we do not expect the best, more of our students will fall behind their peers at home and throughout the world."

  • 09.17.2008

    EDITORIAL: New high-school requirements / The promise of equal opportunity

    The Atlantic City Press writes, "Our public education system is the primary reason that our nation never had the rigid class system that was the norm through most of history. It's the reason that the children of immigrants can become teachers, lawyers, doctors and entrepreneurs."

  • 09.17.2008

    Study finds average high school skills not sufficient

    Nearly 1 million high school students entering a college or university fail placement exams, even though they graduated with an average 3.0 or higher GPA, according to a report released this week by Strong American Schools. (Daily Texan)

  • 09.16.2008

    OPINION: Schools need to prepare students

    In an op-ed published in the Roanoke Times, the columnist writes, "Judging from the minutes of a council meeting last year, reconciling the high school and college requirements merits more than discussion."

  • 09.16.2008

    Editorial: On importing teachers, remedial classes

    The Huntington, W.Va. Herald Dispatch editorializes, "Some people cruise through high school unaware that the classes and learning they are ignoring are indeed valuable and will be necessary when they need more training to compete in the job market."

  • 09.16.2008

    OPINION: Help reduce need for costly remediation classes

    Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden writes in the Kansas City Star, "By enacting strong standards that expect the best of our students and by ensuring that all students have qualified teachers to prepare them for college, we will go a long way to making sure they are also prepared for life."

  • 09.16.2008

    EDITORIAL: An urgent message

    The Washington Times editorializes, "America must bolster its educational foundation. We are also competing on a global stage - one that was practically impossible to envision 40 years ago."

  • 09.15.2008

    Most Students in Remedial Classes in College Had Solid Grades in High School, Survey Finds

    Nearly four out of five students who undergo remediation in college graduated from high school with grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher, according to a report issued today by Strong American Schools, a group that advocates making public-school education more rigorous. (Chronicle for Higher Education)

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  • 09.01.2008

    Some school years go beyond state-required 180 days

    Others say all American students need more time in class to compete with students from other countries who often get more instructional time and score higher on standardized tests. The United States ties at 28th out of 29 countries in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development at 22.2 hours of instruction per week. South Korea ranks first at 30.2 hours. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

  • 08.31.2008

    OPINION: Better education through innovation

    In an op-ed, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, N.J. and two others write, "If we are to maintain our standing in the world, and do right by our people, our next president must spark our education system with the same spirit of invention." (Los Angeles Times)

  • 08.29.2008

    A Disappointing Finish for Americans at Education Olympics

    The United States won the most medals of any country at the summer Olympic Games in Beijing, but it turned in a dismal performance at the Education Olympics. Americans took home only one medal from those games, for an embarrassing 20th-place finish. (U.S. News and World Report)

  • 08.20.2008

    Intel cites US education 'crisis'

    The chairman of the world's biggest computer chipmaker has said the US "education system is in crisis and failing the youth of today."

  • 08.05.2008

    EDITORIAL: Test Iowa's students against world peers

    In an editorial, the Des Moines Register writes, "All that would be outweighed by knowing where Iowa stands compared with countries that score highest on the assessment. It's easier to shrug off dismal rankings for the United States if you think your state has done well. If you know otherwise, it should motivate change."

  • 06.28.2008

    Poll: Schools not properly preparing kids

    Half of Americans say U.S. schools are doing only a fair to poor job preparing kids for college and the work force. Even more feel that way about the skills kids need to survive as adults, an Associated Press poll released Friday finds. (Associated Press)

  • 06.25.2008

    Teacher Bonuses Get Unions' Blessing

    One of the most ambitious pay-for-performance initiatives in Washington area schools is drawing strong teacher interest and local union support even though many national labor leaders have long asserted that it is unfair to link teachers' paychecks directly to their students' test scores. (Washington Post)

  • 06.24.2008

    More rigorous instruction urged for middle-schoolers

    Middle schoolers need longer school days, specially trained teachers and more challenging academics if school officials hope to reverse a decades-long trend of sagging achievement rates, according to a report presented Tuesday to the State Board of Education. (Baltimore Sun)

  • 06.24.2008

    New York Students Improve in Reading and Math

    State Education Commissioner Richard Mills called the results “encouraging and exciting,” saying they were evidence that the state’s emphasis on giving more money to needy school districts and focusing on high standards was successful. (New York Times)

  • 06.24.2008

    EDITORIAL: Governor readies next reform wave

    The Boston Herald editorializes, "So at least everyone’s on the same page: It’s time for a “new era” of education reform." (Boston Herald)

Featured Event

Gov. Romer at the Denver launch

In mid-August, Strong American Schools Chairman Gov. Roy Romer was joined by current Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, former Gov. Dick Lamm and former Sen. Hank Brown to challenge national leaders to put forth real solutions to fix America’s education system.

» Learn more and see more pictures from the launch

Roy's Blog on Schools

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Washington Post Highlights Student Gains

The Washington Post today has an important story on recent gains by at-risk students in the Washington area. The story explains how test scores for disadvantaged students have risen over the past six years. We know that increased accountability, testing...

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Voices From the Campaign - Strong American Schools

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A Proposal for Teacher Pay in Ohio

With Ohio getting more and more attention these days, I wanted to highlight the recent policy brief from the Buckeye Institute on teacher pay. The detailed report addresses one of the top challenges for schools in Ohio and the nation:...

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