Dear GOOGLE, An estimated 7,000 U.S. students drop out of high school each day totaling more than 2 million a year. By the time you read this nearly 22 students will have given up on their quest for a high school diploma. According to a recent OECD report on education performance American children ranked 17th in reading, 31st in math and 20th in science. While the U.S. spends more per pupil than most countries this does not translate into better performance. Why are we lagging so far behind? Why are we failing to adequately educate our youth? Why do we continue to ignore this epidemic failure called public education? Some say socio-economic disadvantage is the main culprit that stifles student achievement while others blame teachers and class size for our continued failings. All of these factors are relevant, but the real impediment is the lack of Education Innovation in our public schools to modernize the current system. Hopefully the rebirth of the IT sector will bring attention to the dire need for the implementation of Education Innovation. What is Education Innovation? Education Innovation is the process of introducing new methods and technologies that will aide in developing the knowledge, skill, and character of our students. Education Innovation will ignite the passion and excitement that is needed to recapture the focus and attention of our youth. Imagine classrooms with state of the art devices and technologies such as Smart Boards and E Tablets. These devices give educators the ability to teach students more effectively by allowing them to use Innovative tools and technology designed specifically for the purpose of retaining the interest and attention of our students. Some students learn by hearing while others comprehend visually. These technologies enable educators to reach both groups of students ensuring that “No child is left behind”. Our students deserve a school system that allows educators to customize their curriculum implementing proven practices such as Looping which allows students to remain under the care of the same instructor for 2 or more years. Another Innovative way of teaching is Collaborative Learning. It's a practice where instructors allow students to form small groups and work together to solve problems in class coming up with their own approach at solving the problem while in the process building critical thinking skills and other traits desirable for educational excellence. But right now students are still being taught on archaic chalkboards and markerboards. This shouldn’t be. With the vast amount of technology that kids are exposed to at home devices such as the tablet, smartphone, Xbox, Wii, PS4, etc. it’s no wonder they have so little excitement about school. The problem is not the lack of available technology or Innovative teaching methods that will modernize and improve our current education system. The problem is the lack of leadership in America that will facilitate an environment where the public and private sectors can work in unison to bring Education Innovation to fruition. We have had countless reforms and initiatives from both political parties promising results that have yet to materialize. "Reforms don’t work!" As Einstein stated: "We can’t find the solutions to our problems with the same level of thinking that created the problem.” We need new thinking… Innovative Thinking!  That’s why I’m contacting you to ask for your assistance GOOGLE being one of the global leaders in Innovation. Your ability to influence and lead the conversation on modernizing & improving our education system is enormous. America needs a summit on Education Innovation where the best and brightest in the Education and Technology fields come together to set a “2020 Vision for a Stronger America”. This vision should be about making America Stronger, more Efficient, and yes more Innovative. We can't continue on this trajectory of stagnation and complacency. We must act now to revamp this epidemic failure called public education. With your influence you could compel leaders from companies like Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Dell, Rosetta Stone, McGraw Hill, Walt Disney and academic institutions such as Harvard, Yale & Stanford to be apart of the conversation that produces the Innovative solutions we so desperately need. This is not an effort to weaken the role of teachers or to replace them with computers. This is a movement to empower educators by advocating for the implementation of Innovative methods and technologies that will assist them in their efforts to teach our youth. Together we can achieve this feat. We must embrace the “It takes a village" mentality. No lasting progress can be made if we fail to provide an environment such as tutorial centers in our neighborhoods that will act as an incubator nurturing and reinforcing what is being taught at school. These centers can be staffed with high school and college students. Their volunteerism can be used as a financial credit to help offset the rising cost of tuition. We can even use existing technology such as a Skype format or Google+ to tutor students. If The State Department can use tools like Rosetta Stone to help its officials overcome language barriers, why can’t this same technology be used to help our students overcome theirs? If I can talk to my kids via Skype, Google+ or Face time from anywhere in the world, why can’t I use that same technology to help them with their homework? The answer is simple. It can be done. America needs Leadership to unite us all behind a movement that will strengthen and position us to continue as a beacon of hope and inspiration to the world.                                         Leadership = GOOGLE