The education industry is critical to US national security and economic well-being. Our assessment of the industry produced mixed results with positives in educational opportunities and numbers of students attending college, and negatives in comparative international test results, gaps in minority student achievement, and rising costs. Significant opportunities and challenges still exist, especially in the areas of teacher certification, recruitment, retention; evolving No Child Left Behind legislation; math, science, engineering achievement; accommodation of shifts in demographics and equal access to quality education; and preparing our education system to meet the changing demands of a growing global economy through collaborative efforts.
