Education and American Demographics: Because of changing demographics, the nation’s future human capital and economic growth increasingly depend upon how well minority and low income students are educated. Today, minority students constitute almost 45 percent of public school enrollment in the United States, and more than 46 percent of the nation’s public school students are low income (eligible for free or reduced cost lunches).

While diversity is an important economic asset, these demographics pose an enormous challenge for America’s systems of education: the children who are fast becoming a new majority in America’s schools have the nation’s lowest levels of educational achievement and attainment.

Education and National Security: America’s national security depends on the intelligence, analytic capacities, and proficiencies of its people in a world that has grown increasingly dangerous. Between 2005 and 2008, however, the number of military recruits with a high school diploma decreased from 84 percent to 73 percent. At every level—from battlefields, to technology, to diplomacy—education is a national security issue. In order to thrive and survive, the United States must develop education systems that provide students—tomorrow’s leaders—with the skills needed to understand, guide, and make good decisions in relation to national security and defense in increasingly complex and uncertain times.

Education and American Democracy: Education is the foundation for preserving American democratic practices, ideals, and values. Education enables Americans to exercise sound judgment, participate in civic and political participation on an informed basis, and help improve the larger society. As John Kenneth Galbraith observed: “…[E]ducation makes democracy possible, and along with economic development, it makes it necessary, even inevitable.” More than ever before, education is now the means by which the nation can demonstrate and preserve its values and constitutional principles.