In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments,
and common sense; and have no other Preliminaries to settle with the reader,
than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession, and suffer his
reason and his feelings to determine for themselves; that he will put ON, or rather
that he will not put OFF the true character of a man, and generously enlarge his
views beyond the present day.

In the 21st century the true wealth of a nation, our common wealth, will be measured by the education
of our children. Today, 88% aspire to get a college degree, yet currently just 40% do. This disparity can
be addressed with a new technology of learning that now exists. It can provide the customized
curriculum all of our children need to learn more productively and emerge from high school ready and
able to succeed in college. Increasing the productivity of teachers, it will lower per-student costs. The
transition to this more efficient and effective learning technology is inevitable. But today, we have the
unique opportunity to use ARRA1 investment to accelerate it. By 2012 every student would come to
school with a computer and be connected to the internet via adequate broadband access, every teacher
would be prepared, and every school would get the new customized technology of learning for every
student.

2.The technology of education is changing from the paper, ink, slate, and chalk model that results in one-
size-fits-all static textbooks to online computers providing dynamic, customized curricula. This new
technology of learning can provide every student with a true IEP*.

4.Student-teacher ratio in 1960 was 25:1 and cost-per-student in current dollars was $2,6703. To provide more individual attention, schools over the past 50 years have driven down the student-teacher ratio to 15:1, raising the cost of schooling to nearly $10,0004 per student and producing severe shortages of qualified teachers in critical subjects like math and science.5