This letter to the editor by Secretary Rod Paige appeared in Investor's Business Daily on September 15, 2004.

When it comes to education, I believe that "seeing is achieving." To improve, we must first know what needs to be improved. So it is imperative that we look beyond our borders and boundaries and measure ourselves against the rest of the world.

Are we becoming more or less competitive in the dynamic global economy? Are we doing all we can to create a highly educated and adaptive work force?

Some of the answers can be found in a new report on education by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The study, which measured 30 industrialized nations accounting for 80% of the world's trade, found good news for Americans.

Our fourth-graders perform above average in reading literacy. We rank second to Canada in college attainment. We rank first in adults over age 45 with both high school diplomas and college degrees.

But take a closer look. As our students reach high school age they fall back to the international average in reading literacy. A higher-than-average proportion performs at the lowest levels. Our young adults—those ages 25 to 34—rank only 10th in high school graduation rates. And our college dropout rate is higher than the OECD average and nearly six times worse than Japan's.

Clearly, we're starting to slip as our friends and competitors are catching up.

There are many good reasons to fix this problem. First, learning affects earning. The OECD study found strong links between education and income, especially so in the U.S. Our economic competitiveness depends on our educational competitiveness as surely as night follows day.

Second, Americans spend substantially more per pupil on elementary, secondary and post-secondary education than the OECD average. As taxpayers, it's time that we demanded more.

So what should be done?

No. 1, we must continue the reforms of the No Child Left Behind Act. The law is clearly working. In states all across the country, test scores are rising, students are learning and the stubborn racial "achievement gap" is beginning to close.

The law's purpose is simple: to bring all students up to grade level in reading and mathematics. States set the bar and schools determine how best to clear it, with progress expected every year among all groups of students. Training is provided to help teachers become highly qualified. And parents are given more information and choices than ever.

The No Child Left Behind Act helps us clearly see every student's needs so we can meet them before it's too late. This is in everyone's interest. A poorly performing school somewhere affects Americans everywhere.

Some politicians have suggested that No Child Left Behind should be repealed or watered down. It doesn't take 20/20 vision to see that they're mistaken. In fact, we must strengthen the law.

President Bush has proposed expanding it to students in grades 9 to 11 to govern our high schools under the same high standards. And the president has proposed more than $300 million to bring all incoming high school students up to grade level in reading and math.

That's not all. Last year we launched the Preparing America's Future High School Initiative. It will encourage high schools to offer more challenging course work to prepare graduates to seize opportunities in college, the work force and life.

We're starting to see progress in closing this "aspiration gap." This year a record number of collegebound seniors took the SAT test, and scores for the ACT college assessment test rose nationwide for the first time since 1997.

Finally, we must reward good teachers. The OECD report found that America's teachers put in longer hours than any other nation's. They're the key to creating a culture of achievement in our schools.

President Bush has proposed a $500 million student achievement incentive fund for high school teachers—in other words, pay for performance. He is seeking to triple loan forgiveness limits—from $5,000 to $17,500—for teachers who serve low-income students.

The vision of a brighter educational future is within our reach. But it's a vision all of us must share. The days when we could look the other way as whole groups of students—minority and non-English speakers, those with disabilities or special needs—were left behind are over.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, our schools are now focused on their success. And, as the OECD report shows, that will lift all of us.

Rod Paige is Secretary of Education.