Wild Card: The McKinsey Study

An editorial by NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman cited a recent study on the  affects of education on the US G.D.P.  The study, conducted by the consulting firm McKinsey, concluded that the US’s inability to close the achievement gap has cost us $1.3 to $2.3 trillion dollars.  The study also showed that the longer US students stay in school, the further they fall behind their international peers.  In science and math, the United States’ test scores ranked 24th and 25th respectively (out of 30) in industrialized nations.  

Friedman argues that there are “huge numbers of exciting education innovations in America today,” including “new modes of teacher compensation” and “charter schools” that have shown improvements in school districts.  While I agree certain programs like KIPP have raised student achievement, I don’t think these programs alone can close the achievement gap.   Arne Duncan continues to advocate for universal accountability in all schools, but I think we should also be looking to invest our money not only in the schools themselves, but early childhood programs that give kids the noncognitive skills they need to achieve.  Paul Tough writes in his book Whatever It Takes that the achievement gap is already present when children are twelve months old.  If this is true, then schools who are forced to measure up to schools in more affluent areas will most likely fail.  Teacher turnover rates will continue to be high, principals will be recycled, and failing school will never hit their stride due to instability.  

I think it’s time we seriously look at federally mandated early childhood development programs.  Making sure all of our students enter school with a chance to succeed should be our highest priority.  This game of catch-up, which has been perpetuated for decades, is, to at least some degree, a lost cause.  Despite the extraordinary achievements of institutions like KIPP, getting underperforming students up to grade level is a Herculean task.  President Obama continues to encourage philanthropists to invest in programs like the Harlem Children’s Zone, which emphasize early childhood programs.  Maybe it’s our duty as educators to advocate for such programs.  The Friedman piece should be read by every CEO in the country.   I don’t expect highly successful businessmen to understand what is happening in our schools, but perhaps the numbers in the McKinsey study could encourage them to get involved.