The nation’s governors concluded their two-day summit on high schools with an expanded set of political and financial commitments to ensure the success of all students in college and the workforce. However, experts warned that improving American high schools is a challenging task that will likely fail unless policymakers can persuade the public that change is necessary.

One of the summit’s highlights was the announcement of a $42 million initiative by six philanthropies, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to help states improve high school graduation and college-readiness rates. Thirteen states, which educate over a third of U.S. students, also joined a coalition dedicated to transforming high schools by raising standards, redesigning curricula, and linking high school tests to the knowledge and skills required for life after high school.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, the chairman of the National Governors Association, emphasized the need for comprehensive reform and long-lasting change in high schools. Many participants agreed that now is an opportune time to address an institution that has been resistant to change. However, educators pointed out that simply raising standards and expectations for students will not be enough. They stressed the importance of addressing issues such as teacher preparation, student engagement, school organization, and support for accelerated learning.

To address the concerns raised by Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates, who described American high schools as obsolete, educators believe that governors must be willing to tackle these tough issues. While these topics were discussed during the summit, it remains to be seen whether governors will take action on them in their home states.

Another key theme of the summit was the need to align high school curricula, standards, and tests with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college and careers. Governors from 13 states joined forces with Achieve to create the American Diploma Project Network, which aims to pursue this agenda. The states involved have committed to aligning standards and tests with postsecondary education and work requirements, requiring all students to take a curriculum that prepares them for college and work, administering a test to measure students’ readiness for college and work, and holding high schools and postsecondary institutions accountable for student success.

The NGA’s Center for Best Practices plans to release guidelines for states to apply for $21 million in grant money to assist in the redesign of high schools within the next 45 days. The grant recipients, announced at the governors’ annual summer meeting in Des Moines, Iowa in August, are expected to match the amount awarded. This, combined with the American Diploma Project Network, is considered to be a significant development. Tom Vander Ark, the executive director of education at the Gates Foundation, believes that more than half of the states will collaborate with the NGA and Achieve on high school redesign. Vander Ark emphasizes the importance of providing states with the necessary resources to execute this endeavor effectively and garner support for higher expectations.

Other foundations joining this effort include the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Wallace Foundation, the Prudential Foundation, and the State Farm Foundation. However, despite the emphasis on the economic imperative to raise standards to remain competitive with countries like China and India, convincing the public of a crisis in high school education and the necessity for all students to be equipped with college-ready skills remains a challenge.

There is a prevailing culture of educational complacency among the public, except in communities facing obvious distress. Art Ryan, the chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial and a co-chairman of Achieve, suggests that business leaders could play a vital role in conveying this message and creating a sense of urgency. The summit is seen as the beginning of this effort. Educators and summit attendees emphasize that aligning standards and assessments at the state and district levels will not yield significant results without substantial investment in teacher and principal training and development.

Support from the top-down, including proper resources, time for collaboration among teachers, and professional development opportunities, is crucial for successful high school redesign. However, educators emphasize that these recommendations necessitate financial backing from governors and legislators. Paying attention to high schools is commendable, but it is essential to fund mandates as well. Governor Warner of Virginia emphasizes that the initiatives discussed at the summit require more than just resources; they require collaboration among various stakeholders who may not have previously worked together. The governors would welcome support from Washington, as outlined by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings’ presentation on President Bush’s proposed $1.5 billion High School Initiative.

The governors adopted a resolution at their midwinter meeting, urging the federal government to decrease burdensome reporting requirements and mandates and entrust the governors to lead in terms of state education policies.