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Our values include equality and opportunity for all, and our economic and civic health demand that we prepare all children for success.
America needs to invest more in early childhood care and education programs, improve the quality of public schools and make college accessible, so that all kids have a real opportunity to achieve the American dream. Success in the competitive global economy of the 21st Century will require the creativity and talent of every young person in America.
Our communities need a public education system that provides all children the opportunity to succeed, including pre-K and afterschool education, and the K-12 schooling necessary to perform entry-level college work. No student should be priced out of the college or advanced technical training they need to prosper in our society.
Agenda for a High-Quality Public Education for All
Early Years are Learning Years
For every $1 invested in pre-kindergarten, a return of at least $7 is expected, due to higher earnings, and less crime and remedial education.
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Every child should enter kindergarten prepared to succeed and have access to safe, accessible, high-quality early childhood education.
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Almost half of all three- and four-year-olds are not in preschool programs.
Public schools must graduate more high school students with the education and skills necessary to prepare them for college and the job market.
About half of African American and Latino/a students leave high school without graduating. Nearly 40 percent of students who graduate say they are unprepared for college or work.
- Teacher shortages are growing – almost half of all new teachers leave the profession during the first five years. We must attract and keep the best teachers in our schools by providing decent salaries and professional development.
- Crowded classrooms impede student learning. When lawmakers enact policies to reduce class sizes, grades improve, attendance rises, and dropout rates fall.
- Education programs must be designed, funded and implemented in ways that ensure the highest quality. We must invest in low-performing schools and districts, and build and modernize schools to best serve the next generation.
We must meet the needs of all students, including English-language learners.
- All children should have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs. More than 14 million kids – 25 percent – are on their own after school. Quality afterschool programs improve academic achievement and keep kids safe.
All young people should be able to get the college education they earn and the technical training they need to succeed in the modern economy.
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Every year, cost forces 400,000 college-qualified students to attend community college instead of four-year schools, and prevents another 200,000 students from enrolling in college at all.
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In 2004 the average earnings of high-school graduates age 45-54 was $33,700, while those with a bachelor’s degree made $59,900 – a 78 percent difference.
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