Product Description

Written by Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and current president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, Raising the Grade describes the alarming cost of our long-time neglect of secondary education. At a time when technology and postsecondary education requirements are rising dramatically in the workforce, the literacy skills of adolescents are not keeping pace. With most federal dollars targeted to elementary schools and higher education, few resources are allocated to improve high schools, to address the achievement gap threatening nearly 6 million students at risk of dropping out in the United States. Raising the Grade is rooted in the stories of real Americans whose high school experiences failed to engage or adequately prepare them for work or college.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #321592 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Review
Raising the Grade is highly recommended for community library education collections. (The MidWest Book Review, June 2008)

A former governor of West Virginia, now the p[resident of the Alliance for Education, lays out his plan for revitalizing secondary schooling. (Education Week, 05/21/08)

Bob Wise book urges reforms in high schools… Wise hopes that the book serves to remind people of the importance of every community high school. (The Charleston Gazette, 05/02/08)

From the Back Cover
"In Raising the Grade, Governor Bob Wise zeroes in on the weakest link in U.S. public education, namely our high schools. As an esteemed education governor and now as CEO of the Alliance for Excellent Education, Wise isn't content to enumerate the flaws in secondary education. He also portrays real-world high schools that work and articulates an action agenda for everyone in a position to make a difference, from educators in the classroom to policymakers in the nation's capitol. As a recipe for thoughtful high school reform, Raising the Grade rates an A in my book."—Hugh Price, Senior Fellow Economic Studies, Brookings Institution

"Our country is facing a dropout crisis. Each year over a million students do not graduate with their peers. This crisis has an effect on our communities in terms of lost income and increased costs for social programs. We do not have the luxury of ignoring this crisis if we expect our students to compete effectively in the global economy. Governor Wise has been a critical leader on identifying the problem and solutions to the dropout crisis and his insightful analysis should be a must-read for all who care about the future of our nation."—Robert "Bobby" Scott, U.S. Congressman (D-VA)

"In Raising the Grade, Governor Wise uses his extensive experience in education to make a compelling case for the transformation of America's high schools. The prosperity of every state—and our nation—demands a response to the issues that are so candidly described in this book. In it, the governor lays out an invaluable plan for federal action that should be required reading for every elected officeholder across the country."—James B. Hunt, Jr., chairman, Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, andformer governor of North Carolina

About the Author
Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia from 2001–2005 and nine-term member of Congress, is president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, a national policy and advocacy organization that works to ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for success. In his term as governor, Wise gained renown for his many education initiatives. Since joining the Alliance in 2005, Wise has become a sought-after speaker and advisor on education issues. The Alliance is based in Washington, DC?(www.all4ed.org).

Customer Reviews

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This book is a must read for every citizen. We have a problem with education, but the emphasis is on the primary grades and have almost totally neglected our high schools. Reading literacy is severely limited. The graduation rates are of great concern.

Bob Wise makes an outstanding case for correcting these problem. He identifies the problems with facts and figures and then provides solutions. My only criticism is with his graphics.

Graduation rates in America are plummeting - is there any hope for secondary education?
Graduation rates in America are plummeting - is there any hope for secondary education? "Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation" written by the president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former West Virginian Governor Bob Wise. Outlining a plan for reforming secondary education in a time where it's more vital than ever thanks to rising career demands asking for high education and skill with technology, it's an invaluable read for any educational administrator. "Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation" is highly recommended for community library education collections.