Thomas B. Fordham Institute – Darien Wynn
“A recent study released by NCES compares the competencies and skill levels of U.S. adults to their counterparts in foreign countries. The study relies heavily on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), which tests three “domains”: literacy, numeracy, and problem solving…Analysts found that, compared to people in other participating countries, U.S. adults between the ages of 16 and 65 have lower average PIAAC scale scores in numeracy and problem solving. American young people are less ready for college and career, and larger percentages of them scored in PIAAC’s lowest level in literacy, numeracy, and problem solving. Moreover, compared to the international average, U.S. students who graduate high school typically only possess reading, math, and problem solving skills needed to complete brief and simple tasks in the workplace…their findings do reaffirm the importance of closing America’s achievement gap and strengthening our K–12 system so that high school graduates can be internationally competitive. Rigorous standards, along with state- and district-level expansion of CTE programs, can help accomplish this only if states remain committed to these changes for the long haul.”(more)