Across the country, states are raising academic standards for all students to make sure they're ready for college and the workforce when they graduate and can compete with students around the world. High, consistent standards motivate students to succeed, but every child needs something different. Some need help with reading or spelling. Others struggle with fractions. And some are great writers, but struggle with algebra. Every child deserves the best education we can give them, but too many students do not have what they need to succeed. Incredibly, about 40% of school districts in America don't even offer pre-school. Almost one in five African-American students and slightly fewer Latino students attend drop-out factories. In many states, students of color and English learning students are more likely to attend schools with high percentages of inexperienced teachers. Students with disabilities make up 12% of all high school students, but only 2% of the students who take an AP class. So it's not surprising that there are achievement gaps between White students and students of color and between students with and without disabilities. But we can change this. We can give every child a fair chance, making sure all schools have the resources they need to help all of their students succeed. And that means providing additional resources for students who are struggling. Let your state and local elected officials know that you support high academic standards and want them to be implemented in a way that ensures every child succeeds.