ABSTRACT
This chapter offers bold prescriptions for action. It discusses demand changes in the way schools work and in the way we treat students. The chapter proposes higher expectations for parents, for teachers, and for those who train and support our teachers. It explains the challenge local, state, and federal leaders to set new priorities to match new educational standards and goals. The chapter focuses on the business community and the media to promote student achievement. It provides schools with the resources to tackle this urgent problem-keeping in mind that the place to start is in the primary and middle schools. Teachers must impart to students the skills of investigation and analysis, writing, mathematical reasoning, problem solving, and conflict resolution. The federal government should join states in setting goals, developing performance standards, evaluating existing programs and disseminating results from successful schools and replicable model programs.
