Thomas L. Friedman’s notion in “It’s Still Halftime in America” (column, Sept. 2) that keeping children in school and guaranteeing all Americans an opportunity for higher education is a goal worthy of America’s next exceptional journey.
We do not have an effective system of public education in this country.
About half of American children are not ready for kindergarten, a level of unpreparedness that permeates their secondary and college education and prevents them from reaching their potential in the American work force.
We need a map, as Mr. Friedman suggests, and we’ve got one.
The Strive framework is a cradle-to-career approach that brings together everyone with a stake in student success — preschool-to-12, colleges, civic organizations, businesses — to embrace the collective delivery of education.
Producing positive trends in preparedness, reading and math scores, and graduation rates, the proven success of Strive has compelled communities across the country to sign on.
The map is drawn. A national commitment to using it is the reform America needs to secure our status as a world leader in education.
NANCY L. ZIMPHER
Chancellor
State University of New York
Albany, Sept. 4, 2012