Janice Jackson: Students are not ready for tomorrow — yet

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Janice Jackson, former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, argues that the U.S. education system is not adequately preparing students for the future, with nearly half of 12th graders lacking basic math skills and one-third struggling with literacy. She says incremental changes are not enough, and that a shared national vision for education focused on critical thinking, civic readiness, adaptability, and problem-solving is needed to address this crisis.

Why it matters

Jackson warns that the failure to prepare young Americans has serious consequences for the country's economic competitiveness, global leadership, and long-term stability. She says the U.S. is falling behind other nations that are investing aggressively in education and human capital, and that this should concern all Americans.

The details

Jackson, who has over 20 years of experience working in schools and education systems, says the education system was built for a different era and no longer meets the needs of today's students. She says even during the pandemic, when schools received unprecedented resources, outcomes did not shift as much as hoped. Jackson argues that funding is important, but so are expectations, accountability, responsiveness, and a willingness to confront the gap between what students need and what the current system delivers.

• In 2025, nearly half of America's 12th graders could not demonstrate basic math skills while one-third struggled with basic literacy, according to the latest Nation's Report Card.
• Jan. 24 marked World Education Day, with this year's theme highlighting young people's essential role in shaping the future of learning.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Jackson is bringing together a group of leaders across sectors, party, perspectives, education, and generations to rethink education from the ground up and propose how to best prepare the coming generations of students.