K-12 public education in America is in a condition of decline and failure. This can no longer be ignored. Though we spend more than other countries per student, our students now rank behind those of other developed nations. The drop-out rate in urban schools approximates 50 percent. The failure in our urban public schools contributes to many other social issues. By 2020, in this high tech world, America's need for skilled, educated workers will approximate 120 million. Our present education system will be able to supply only 50 million. 

Though billions of American tax dollars have been thrown into education reform, those dollars have produced results of negative consequence. Consider the dramatic increase in public school employment compared to student

enrollment. The reason for failure is not complicated. Throughout most of America, teachers own and operate the education system. The teachers' interest should be focused on the children's success. Sadly, the focus is on money and political power. With the unions enjoying an annual income approximating 1 1/2 billion dollars per year, their financial impact on America's political institutions has been overwhelming. The teachers unions have become the center of the left-wing socialist secular movement.

school based on his or her address effectively creates a monopoly. Monopolies have always benefitted those who own the monopoly and never the consumer. We need to change this system and the opportunity for a change is at hand. An informed citizenry can turn this poorly focused system into one headed in the right direction. By passing freedom of school choice legislation, we can overcome the education monopoly and its supporters. If we are successful, we will have come a long way to saving our children and the future of this country.

Improving our children's education can be accomplished effectively and quickly through the school choice movement.  Parents have the right to select the school appropriate to their child's needs and probable opportunities for a better life. Our present system of assigning a child to a