U.S. Education Reform and National Security

For more than fifty years, the United States has led the world economically,diplomatically, and militarily. In recent decades, however, as the need for highlevelskills and knowledge has become increasingly important, America's students have fallen behind their international peers in math, science, and reading.

With increasing global competition, the United States must make sure that its studentsare equipped to sustain U.S. enterprise, economic and military strength, and intellectualleadership. In short, it must ensure that Americans are able to compete with peersaround the globe today and in decades to come. If the United States cannot adequatelyeducate its young people, failure will threaten its role as an international leaderand its economic competitiveness, putting America's global leadership and future at risk.

Improving America's public schools cannot be considered a purely domestic concern:the country's ability to prepare students to compete globally is integrally tied to U.S.national security. This Task Force report offers concrete recommendations for educationreform that refocus the country on transforming schools and school systemsto ensure America's continued economic and political growth and security.

Joel I. Klein is the chief executive officer of the educational division and executive vicepresident, Office of the Chairman, of News Corporation. He is also the former chancellorof the New York City Department of Education. Condoleezza Rice is a professor of politicaleconomy in Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, the Thomas and BarbaraStephenson Senior Fellow on public policy at the Hoover Institution, and a professor of political science at Stanford University. She is also a founding partner of the Rice Hadley Group and a former U.S. secretary of state and national security adviser. Julia C. Levy is the former director of communications for the New York City Department of Education.