• 20% of eighth graders are on target to graduate from high school
• 20% of students earn passing scores on AP exams
• 20% of students are prepared to enter the military
• 20% of students have the writing skills needed for college
• 20% of current ninth graders will graduate from college in 10 years

"America has a moral obligation to prepare young people to become self-supporting members of society -- and national security also hinges on having enough youths fit for military duty."--Colin Powell

"Dismally, 70 percent of young Americans in the 17-to-24 age bracket are unfit to join the U.S. military, former Secretary of State and Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell warns." While 30% of students are fit to join the armed forces, fully one-third of them lack the reading and math skills needed by our high-tech military.

Conversation Starter: The 20% solution has nothing to do with student ability, and everything to do with readiness. Our students can achieve to high levels, but they need us to prepare them.