«In an increasingly competitive global economy,
the consequences of dropping out of high school are devastating to individuals, communities, and our national economy,» the study reports.
This legislation, which passed with overwhelming bi-partisan majorities at the time, was based upon the sound evidence that children who can not read on grade level by fourth grade begin a cycle
of falling behind and are much more likely to
drop out of high school, and experience a spiraling set
of consequences that often lead to unemployment and incarceration.