American teachers and principals lead the world in the access they have to resources. While there are clear disparities between schools in  high and low income communities, physical plant, computer technology, educational materials, science laboratories and other educational equipment  are generally of high quality and in widespread use. But while more is spent on schools and  students annually than in any other country in the world, the United States is as low as twenty fifth when compared with other nations on various measures of  achievement.

Employers throughout the United States and the developing world have one thing in common: the need for entry-level workers with decent basic skills, a solid work ethic, personal responsibility, computer savvy, and the ability to function effectively on teams. And schools, particularly in large cities, are failing to produce enough of these kinds of workers.