Higher student achievement, say the authors, has been severely hampered by a lack of good information comparing achievement levels with today's labor market requirements. They argue that by obtaining this information--in the form of academic standards and assessments--parents can more accurately...

Both the growing college/high school earnings gap and the generally slow growth of real earnings have generated frustration with the political system. in the short run the earnings gap is likely to remain at roughly its current level. Over time, however, the increased concentration of low income...