The U.S. News and World Report – Gerard Robinson
“July is an important month in American history, particularly as it relates to liberty. American leaders supported the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, announced that nine states had ratified the Constitution in July 1788 and signed the Civil Rights Act in July 1964. This July, Republican and Democratic convention leaders selected Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton as their nominees for president. Although each party platform and nominee talked up the promises of pre-K–20 education, no clear agenda was put forth. With less than 100 days to the election, I offer the nominees five pillars to preserving America’s liberty to “L.E.A.R.N.” Literacy is the foundation for all competencies – in the U.S. and abroad. Millions of Americans are thriving in our knowledge economy, but too many have failed to reach their full potential because of literacy challenges. These challenges do not begin in adulthood; they start years earlier. A 2011 Annie E. Casey Foundation study identified that a student who cannot read proficiently by the third grade is four times more likely to drop out of high school. Even some of our high school graduates have literacy challenges that show up in the workforce.”(more)