Education Reform Initiative

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K-12 | Policy

Posted December 05, 2011

In early 2011, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue stated in his annual State of American Business address, “Rebuilding America’s economic foundation is about more than the physical infrastructure. It is fundamentally about people—developing the talents of our children and workers, and ensuring that our country continues to lead the world in innovation.” However, America is failing. Among 34 developed countries, American students rank 14th in reading, 17th in science, and 25th in mathematics, and an American high school student drops out every 27 seconds.

To increase American competitiveness and strengthen our economy, the business community must actively engage on issues related to our nation’s education system.

Over the past 14 months, the National Chamber Foundation (NCF), Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), and U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) have worked with key partners in the business community to highlight the extent of the crisis in our schools, identify forces standing in the way of needed change, and promote positive solutions such as competition, accountability, and choice to provide America’s children with the education they deserve and employers with the workers they need.

Through their partnership, NCF, ICW and USCC reached business, opinion, and local leaders around the country by screening the documentary Waiting for “Superman,” creating and distributing materials and resources to state and local chambers of commerce, and engaging local and state business leaders to host follow-up forums and events to invigorate our grassroots network.

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