The flat world and education: how America's commitment to equity will determine our future

Abstract

As America enters the 21st century, U.S. students continue to slip behind in the world's rankings in science and math. Yet, at the same time, state prison budgets are increasing nearly three times as fast as budgets for education. Linda Darling-Hammond, a chief education advisor to President Barack Obama, bestselling author, and nationally recognized leader in education reform, explores these and many other troubling realities in Flat World and Education: How America's Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future. This sobering account of the current crisis of public education in America focuses on equity as a critical measure of the situation. The author identifies the basic lack of access to opportunities at all levels of public education for low-income and minority students and cogently argues that improving America's performance in the global economy is tied to closing the minority - majority achievement gap at home. Flat World and Education offers an eye-opening wake-up call concerning America's future and reminds us that every one benefits when all students have an equal opportunity to achieve. It also lays out how the United States can provide that opportunity for every child in every community.