LETTERS TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
July 24, 2008
| The Honorable John McCain John McCain 2008 P.O. Box 16118 Arlington, VA 22215 |
The Honorable Barack Obama Obama for America P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL 60680 |
Dear Senators McCain and Obama:
On behalf of the Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA), representing business leaders from every sector of the economy, we are writing to request that you devote an event, town hall meeting, or debate to the topic of education. Because we believe that the future success of our nation depends on our ability to effectively educate our children, we are asking that you conduct a joint discussion – including a joint appearance – where you both can talk about how you plan to address this critical issue.
As noted by Strong American Schools, a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy effort aimed at elevating discussion amongst America’s leaders about the need for education reform, “America’s students are losing out. The world is changing, jobs are evolving, and far too many students are simply not being prepared to be successful adults.”
The BCSA believes that improving the performance of the lifelong education system in the U.S. is necessary to provide a strong foundation for both U.S. competitiveness and for individuals to succeed in our rapidly changing world.
As employers, we understand the important role that the U.S. business community has to play in ensuring that the American education system prepares our students of all ages to meet the challenges of higher education and the workplace. We are committed to working with all stakeholders – policymakers, educators, parents and students – on this essential task.
Ensuring that all students are academically prepared for college, citizenship and the 21st century workplace is perhaps the most important job the U.S. business community can undertake. We hope you will join us in this endeavor and consider our request to devote an entire event, town hall meeting, or debate on the issue of education reform.
Sincerely,
 |
 |
|
Craig Barrett |
Edward B. Rust Jr. Chairman & CEO State Farm |
* Click here to download this letter as a PDF.
