This weekend, governors from across the nation will gather in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association’s annual winter meeting. Now is the perfect time to encourage your governor to reclaim the promise of public education on behalf of America’s youth. Tell your governor that America’s children deserve the same access to high-quality public education as students in other industrialized countries.
| 2010 NJ Child Poverty | 2012 NJ Child Poverty |
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According to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, U.S. students rank 26th in mathematics out of 34 industrialized countries. The most significant difference between the United States and the other industrialized nations is an astounding child poverty rate of 23 percent—nearly one in four children.
All of our young people must have the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to compete in the 21st-century global economy.
Successful countries address equity in education by:
Directing resources to the schools and students with the greatest need;
- Ensuring that teachers are well-prepared and supported;
- Providing all students with a robust curriculum;
- Nurturing partnerships with parents and community; and
- Implementing high-quality, universal early childhood education.
AFT members wholeheartedly endorse these policies and practices of high-performing countries to mitigate child poverty. It’s time to address the educational needs of all of America’s youth by reclaiming the promise of public education.