The flat world and education: how America's commitment to equity will determine our future

As America enters the 21st century, U.S. students continue to slip behind in the world's rankings in science and math. Yet, at the same time, state prison budgets are increasing nearly three times as fast as budgets for education. Linda Darling-Hammond, a chief education advisor to President Barack Obama, bestselling author, and nationally recognized leader in education reform, explores these and many other troubling realities in Flat World and Education: How America's Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future. This sobering account of the current crisis of public education in America focuses on equity as a critical measure of the situation. The author identifies the basic lack of access to opportunities…