$3 Trillion Of Reasons to Be Pessismistic, One Reason to be Optimistic

by Mike Smith · 2009-09-16 10:42:00 UTC
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The U.S education acheivement gap is costing the country almost $3 trillion a year. But we have reason to be optimistic. Democracy, "A Journal of Ideas," have a long piece about the neccessity of innovation, diving in immediately to explain that the international achievement gap costs the U.S. economy between $1.3 and $2.3 trillion annually, whilst the domestic acheivement gap between low and high income kids cost us around $500 billion a year. Hardly a reason for optimism, but the new chance at reform is making people very optimistic reports Kevin Huffman.

Huffman argues in favor of local innovation and attempts to veer away from traditional education delivery, explaining that there has never been a more innovative time in education.

As the president and education secretary have made clear, maintaining the status quo is not a real option. The stakes are too high for the country to continue propping up a mediocre public education system.

The whole article (free registration required) is a must read on innovation.

[Photo credit: Change.gov]

Mike Smith is associate editor at Change.org.
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