One Student Drops Out Of School Every 26 Seconds - What Can Be Done?

In 2007, at the National Governor's Association Summit it was stated that one student drops out of a US school every 29 seconds.

Three years later it was reported by CNN that the statistic as one drops out every 26 seconds.

The following year, NBA All Star LeBron James and State Farm Insurance decided to bring this startling news to more people's attention through their "26 Second" program.

What will it take before America implements exactly what needs to be done to tackle the problem? That problem being illiteracy.

With illiteracy a major cause of juvenile delinquency and crime, as reported on many fronts, it seems only natural that the primary emphasis should be to ensure that every American knows how to read proficiently.

And the most proven method to accomplish that very worthwhile goal, whether it be beginning reading instruction or remediation, is through systematic and explicit phonics instruction.

Instead of illiteracy costing taxpayers and businesses over $225 billion annually in crime, welfare payments, lost taxes, job incompetence and remedial education is it not better to increase production and income through literacy?

In 2003, the Alliance for Excellent Education stated in their report, "If literacy levels in the United States were the same as those in Sweden, the U.S. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) would rise by approximately $463 billion and tax revenues would increase by approximately $162 billion.
It is time for change. It is time to Wake Up and not only address but handle the problem.

Phonics reading methodology can, and does, change lives. But, only if it is used.