Education: America’s First Priority

The United States of America has a number of issues that need to be focused on as it looks a generation ahead, job growth and immigration reform, for example among them. As of the end of November 2013, there was a 7% unemployment rate in the United States as of November 2013 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). As of January 2010, there were an estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States (Hofer, Rytina, and Baker). While those are important issues that must be addressed, education is the most important domestic policy facing the United States today, and it should be given priority over those and other issues, because of the benefits improving education will provide - such as improving student performance.

One way of improving education will help the country is by reducing poverty and increasing individual wealth, providing financial stability for more people. Katarina Keller, in her 2010 study, reports “improving the quality of primary education would benefit most of the population and reduce [income] inequality” (72). The study effectively shows that there is a correlation between education and income levels.

A better-educated population will also benefit the country by elevating the average skill level in our population, and by extension, improving the economy. This will mean as a whole we will be more competitive with other nations, and we can be more productive in areas that require more education, like STEM courses of science and engineering. Further, having more people with a higher skill level will likely provide a deeper pool of potential leaders in business and government.

Our present business and government leaders have plenty to think about as they prepare the country for its future success. Other issues, like job growth and immigration reform, are critically important issues that must be addressed soon. Because of the depth and breadth of the potential positive effects on the country, however, education is the most important domestic policy facing the United States today and should be improved first.

Works Cited

Hoefer, Michael, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan Baker. "Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2010." Population Estimates. Department of Homeland Security, Feb. 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.

Keller, Katarina R. I. "How Can Education Policy Improve Income Distribution? An Empirical Analysis Of Education Stages And Measures On Income Inequality." Journal Of Developing Areas 43.2 (2010): 51-77. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Dec. 2013

Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment Situation Summary.” bls.gov. United States Department of Labor. 6 Dec. 2013. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.