A New School System

A Brief, Bold Proposal for Addressing the Literacy Crises in America

The United States currently ranks thirty-sixth in literacy worldwide.

According to the National Literacy Institute, over half of American adults read below the sixth-grade level, and low levels of literacy cost the US up to 2.2 trillion dollars per year.

In 1983, the report “A Nation at Risk” rocked the soul of the United States when it concluded that the country faced a severe education crisis. Thus began a litany of school reforms. But after more than forty years, only about one-third of students read at grade level.

Yet something extraordinary came out of those decades of reforms—proof that the structure of the current school system does not work for the great majority of students. A New School System is a brief, bold proposal for a reformed public school system that will advance not just the few but most students.

Imagine a school system that provides students with the necessary foundation on which to build literacy skills that will last them a lifetime. In turn, the attainment of advanced reading levels would enable students to reach their loftiest career dreams, grow individual success for years to come, and contribute positively to the society that has provided them with the tools to flourish.

For too long, achieving this dream has seemed to be out of reach for many—but not anymore.

In an accessible and easy-to-read format that anyone—not just educators—can pick up and learn from, this proposal breaks down the systemic changes that could help shape American schools into institutions that foster appropriate literacy levels.

Whether you’re a parent, student, educator, employee, employer, military member, public servant, or simply a concerned citizen with a vested interest in how our nation’s leaders will grow the minds of the next generation, you will benefit from this feast of research-backed recommendations to rebuild the US education system from the ground up.