Let's be honest. We've got a real challenge in Oregon. As Governor Kulongoski said at the recent Oregon Leadership Summit, "If we let education fail in Oregon, our economy will surely fail." The data is clear.

We are falling behind in education and it makes Oregon less competitive in the world. Less than a third of our high school students graduate ready to succeed in college, and the Oregonian recently reported nearly 20% of college freshmen are dropping out annually because they are not properly prepared.

Oregon employers tell us it is increasingly difficult to hire qualified employees, and some are looking out of state or overseas for qualified applicants. Employers who do hire locally are spending thousands of dollars annually to teach employees basic skills they should have learned in school.

Education is the muscle of employability. 54% of all high school dropouts are unemployed, and that number is even higher for minority groups. This has profound economic and social affects on our society. Conversely, 80% of adults with an associates degree or technical certificate are employed.

We can be proud that some Oregon students perform at the highest level of achievement in the nation, and many schools seem to be doing well. But every school in Oregon has a serious achievement gap that represents more than just a percentage line on a bar chart. Nearly 60% of African American and Latino students are failing their 8th and 10th grade reading and math benchmarks. Our inability to effectively reach and teach all students is condemning thousands of young Oregonians to a lifetime of poverty.

Our schools are failing to prepare too many students for work or post-secondary education. Without significant improvement across the board, the future well being of our state, and our society, is at risk.

We believe everyone has a role to play in helping schools and students succeed, and we believe employers have a vested interest in that success, as well as the unique skills and resources to help make a real difference.

The need is clear, and the opportunity to make a difference is here.