Flaws in Our Public Education America has remained the world's largest economy for more than 10 decades. Home to more than 50% of the top-ranked colleges and universities, schools in the United States are considered some of the best in the world. However, when it comes to primary and secondary education, the level of performance appears to have remained stagnant compared to other industrialized countries. In fact, a study by University of Chicago economist James J. Heckman showed that individuals with a GED did not have better economic outcomes than high school dropouts (Gordon 1). To combat this trend, the United States must reform its education policy systems across the country. As a country, the United States' academic performance appears excellent, but when compared internationally, there is a problem. Every three years, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conducts a study, PISA, around the world among 15-year-old students on their results in mathematics, science and literacy. In PISA 2012, 65 countries participated. The results show that: for math, the United States ranks 30, for science, 18, and for literacy, 18. Although the rankings are not bad, in every test the United States scored results ranging from below average to average. Additionally, "U.S. average scores in math, science, and reading in 2012 were not significantly different from average scores in previous PISA assessment years." (“Program.”) While the United States' results remain consistent, other countries are improving. If this trend continues, Americans will lose job and higher education opportunities. The government's role in education has proven ineffective. State and local governments primarily operate America's public schools. The state government is responsible for the settlement...... middle of paper ...... not being made public. It should only be used to show areas where the school needs to improve and to raise red flags for where schools are capable of providing a good education to students. If public schools do not improve, U.S. citizens will lose future education or employment opportunities to other academically improving countries. Crow, Michael M. and Silver, Mariko. “American education systems in a global context” Technology in Society 30.4(2008):279-291. Print. Greifner, Laura. Educational week “Standardized tests”. 26.33 (2007): 14. Web.Gordon, Robert J. “The Great Stagnation in American Education.” New York Times September 7, 2013: 5(L). Academic OneFile. Internet. January 21, 2014. “Program for International Student Assessment (PISA),” National Center for Education Statistics. IES Institute of Educational Sciences. and Web. 22 wed.. 2014