A High School Diploma Must Be the Standard

I am hopeful that with the NEA initiative and our efforts in the Congress, we will find the will to put in place the policies and investments necessary to ensure that all of our students are able to attain a high school diploma, preparing them for postsecondary education and careers. We must target the resources to where there is the greatest need and focus on building core literacy skills across the curriculum. Many of our young people are entering high school without the fundamental reading and writing skills necessary to succeed. We must make graduation the goal – the standard. The first threshold for secondary school accountability must be graduation with a diploma.