2009_MC Annual_JJ Letter_NN1 from_II Bill_NP1 Gates_NP1 :_: U.S._NP1 Education_NN1 I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ lucky_JJ enough_RR to_TO accumulate_VVI the_AT wealth_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ going_VVG into_II the_AT foundation_NN1 because_CS I_PPIS1 got_VVD a_AT1 great_JJ education_NN1 and_CC was_VBDZ born_VVN in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ,_, where_CS innovation_NN1 and_CC risk-taking_NN1 are_VBR rewarded_VVN ._. 
Warren_NP1 Buffett_NP1 is_VBZ very_RG articulate_JJ about_II how_RRQ every_AT1 American_JJ ,_, including_II him_PPHO1 ,_, is_VBZ lucky_JJ to_TO have_VHI been_VBN born_VVN here_RL ._. 
He_PPHS1 calls_VVZ us_PPIO2 winners_NN2 of_IO the_AT "_" ovarian_JJ lottery_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB even_RR within_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ,_, there_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 big_JJ gap_NN1 between_II people_NN who_PNQS get_VV0 the_AT chance_NN1 to_TO make_VVI the_AT most_DAT of_IO their_APPGE talents_NN2 and_CC those_DD2 who_PNQS do_VD0 n't_XX ._. 
Melinda_NN1 and_CC I_PPIS1 believe_VV0 that_CST providing_CS everyone_PN1 with_IW a_AT1 great_JJ education_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT key_NN1 to_II closing_VVG this_DD1 gap_NN1 ._. 
If_CS your_APPGE parents_NN2 are_VBR poor_JJ ,_, you_PPY need_VV0 a_AT1 good_JJ education_NN1 in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO have_VHI the_AT equal_JJ opportunity_NN1 that_CST our_APPGE founders_NN2 promoted_VVN for_IF every_AT1 citizen_NN1 ._. 
And_CC for_IF the_AT country_NN1 as_II a_AT1 whole_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 believe_VV0 improving_JJ education_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT key_NN1 to_II retaining_VVG our_APPGE position_NN1 of_IO world_NN1 leadership_NN1 in_II all_DB areas_NN2 ,_, including_II starting_VVG great_JJ businesses_NN2 and_CC doing_VDG innovative_JJ research_NN1 ._. 
So_RR in_II31 addition_II32 to_II33 the_AT foundation_NN1 's_GE work_NN1 to_TO improve_VVI the_AT lives_NN2 of_IO the_AT poorest_JJT worldwide_JJ ,_, we_PPIS2 started_VVD our_APPGE U.S._NP1 Program_NN1 to_TO help_VVI reduce_VVI inequity_NN1 in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
The_AT private_JJ high_JJ school_NN1 I_PPIS1 attended_VVD ,_, Lakeside_NP1 in_II Seattle_NP1 ,_, made_VVD a_AT1 huge_JJ difference_NN1 in_II my_APPGE life_NN1 ._. 
The_AT teachers_NN2 fueled_VVD my_APPGE interests_NN2 and_CC encouraged_VVD me_PPIO1 to_TO read_VVI and_CC learn_VVI as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA I_PPIS1 could_VM ._. 
Without_IW those_DD2 teachers_NN2 I_PPIS1 never_RR would_VM have_VHI gotten_VVN on_II the_AT path_NN1 of_IO getting_VVG deeply_RR engaged_VVN in_II math_NN1 and_CC software_NN1 ._. 
Melinda_NN1 first_MD started_VVD using_VVG computers_NN2 when_RRQ she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ in_II high_JJ school_NN1 ,_, at_II a_AT1 time_NNT1 when_RRQ that_DD1 was_VBDZ still_RR unusual_JJ ,_, and_CC then_RT she_PPHS1 got_VVD to_TO study_VVI computer_NN1 science_NN1 and_CC business_NN1 in_II college_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ led_VVD to_II a_AT1 great_JJ career_NN1 at_II Microsoft_NP1 ._. 
How_RGQ many_DA2 kids_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX get_VVI the_AT same_DA chance_NN1 to_TO achieve_VVI their_APPGE full_JJ potential_NN1 ?_? 
The_AT number_NN1 is_VBZ very_RG large_JJ ._. 
Every_AT1 year_NNT1 ,_, 1_MC1 million_NNO kids_NN2 drop_VV0 out_II21 of_II22 high_JJ school_NN1 ._. 
Only_RR 71_MC percent_NNU of_IO kids_NN2 graduate_VV0 from_II high_JJ school_NN1 within_II four_MC years_NNT2 ,_, and_CC for_IF minorities_NN2 the_AT numbers_NN2 are_VBR even_RR worse_JJR --_NN1 58_MC percent_NNU for_IF Hispanics_NN2 and_CC 55_MC percent_NNU for_IF African_JJ Americans_NN2 ._. 
If_CS the_AT decline_NN1 in_II childhood_NN1 deaths_NN2 I_PPIS1 mentioned_VVD earlier_RRR is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT positive_JJ statistics_NN ever_RR ,_, these_DD2 are_VBR some_DD of_IO the_AT most_RGT negative_JJ ._. 
The_AT federal_JJ No_AT Child_NN1 Left_VVN Behind_II Act_NN1 is_VBZ n't_XX perfect_JJ ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 has_VHZ forced_VVN us_PPIO2 to_TO look_VVI at_II each_DD1 school_NN1 's_GE results_NN2 and_CC realize_VV0 how_RGQ poorly_RR we_PPIS2 are_VBR doing_VDG overall_RR ._. 
It_PPH1 surprises_VVZ me_PPIO1 that_CST more_DAR parents_NN2 are_VBR not_XX upset_JJ about_II the_AT education_NN1 their_APPGE own_DA kids_NN2 are_VBR receiving_VVG ._. 
Nine_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, the_AT foundation_NN1 decided_VVD to_TO invest_VVI in_II helping_VVG to_TO create_VVI better_JJR high_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 have_VH0 made_VVN over_RG $2_NNU billion_NNO in_II grants_NN2 ._. 
The_AT goal_NN1 was_VBDZ to_TO give_VVI schools_NN2 extra_JJ money_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 period_NN1 of_IO time_NNT1 to_TO make_VVI changes_NN2 in_II the_AT way_NN1 they_PPHS2 were_VBDR organized_VVN (_( including_II reducing_VVG their_APPGE size_NN1 )_) ,_, in_II how_RRQ the_AT teachers_NN2 worked_VVD ,_, and_CC in_II the_AT curriculum_NN1 ._. 
The_AT hope_NN1 was_VBDZ that_CST after_CS a_AT1 few_DA2 years_NNT2 they_PPHS2 would_VM operate_VVI at_II the_AT same_DA cost_NN1 per_II student_NN1 as_CSA before_RT ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 would_VM have_VHI become_VVN much_RR more_RGR effective_JJ ._. 
Many_DA2 of_IO the_AT small_JJ schools_NN2 that_CST we_PPIS2 invested_VVD in_II did_VDD not_XX improve_VVI students_NN2 '_GE achievement_NN1 in_II any_DD significant_JJ way_NN1 ._. 
These_DD2 tended_VVD to_TO be_VBI the_AT schools_NN2 that_CST did_VDD not_XX take_VVI radical_JJ steps_NN2 to_TO change_VVI the_AT culture_NN1 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 allowing_VVG the_AT principal_JJ to_TO pick_VVI the_AT team_NN1 of_IO teachers_NN2 or_CC change_VV0 the_AT curriculum_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 had_VHD less_DAR success_NN1 trying_VVG to_TO change_VVI an_AT1 existing_JJ school_NN1 than_CSN helping_VVG to_TO create_VVI a_AT1 new_JJ school_NN1 ._. 
Even_RR21 so_RR22 ,_, many_DA2 schools_NN2 had_VHD higher_JJR attendance_NN1 and_CC graduation_NN1 rates_NN2 than_CSN their_APPGE peers_NN2 ._. 
While_CS we_PPIS2 were_VBDR pleased_JJ with_IW these_DD2 improvements_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 are_VBR trying_VVG to_TO raise_VVI college-ready_JJ graduation_NN1 rates_NN2 ,_, and_CC in_II most_DAT cases_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 fell_VVD short_JJ ._. 
But_CCB a_AT1 few_DA2 of_IO the_AT schools_NN2 that_CST we_PPIS2 funded_VVD achieved_VVN something_PN1 amazing_JJ ._. 
They_PPHS2 replaced_VVD schools_NN2 with_IW low_JJ expectations_NN2 and_CC low_JJ results_NN2 with_IW ones_NN2 that_CST have_VH0 high_JJ expectations_NN2 and_CC high_JJ results_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 schools_NN2 are_VBR not_XX selective_JJ in_II whom_PNQO they_PPHS2 admit_VV0 ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 are_VBR overwhelmingly_RR serving_VVG kids_NN2 in_II poor_JJ areas_NN2 ,_, most_DAT of_IO whose_DDQGE parents_NN2 did_VDD not_XX go_VVI to_II college_NN1 ._. 
Almost_RR all_DB of_IO these_DD2 schools_NN2 are_VBR charter_NN1 schools_NN2 that_CST have_VH0 significantly_RR longer_JJR school_NN1 days_NNT2 than_CSN other_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 have_VH0 had_VHN a_AT1 chance_NN1 to_TO spend_VVI time_NNT1 at_II a_AT1 number_NN1 of_IO these_DD2 schools_NN2 ,_, including_II High_JJ Tech_NN1 High_JJ in_II San_NP1 Diego_NP1 and_CC the_AT Knowledge_NN1 Is_VBZ Power_NN1 Program_NN1 ,_, or_CC "_" KIPP_NP1 ,_, "_" in_II Houston_NP1 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 wonderful_JJ new_JJ book_NN1 out_RP about_II KIPP_NP1 called_VVD Work_NN1 Hard_RR ._. 
Be_VB0 Nice._NP1 ,_, by_II the_AT education_NN1 reporter_NN1 Jay_NP1 Mathews_NP1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ an_AT1 inspiring_JJ look_NN1 at_II how_RRQ KIPP_NP1 has_VHZ accomplished_VVN these_DD2 amazing_JJ results_NN2 and_CC the_AT barriers_NN2 they_PPHS2 faced_VVD ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ invigorating_JJ and_CC inspirational_JJ to_TO meet_VVI with_IW the_AT students_NN2 and_CC teachers_NN2 in_II these_DD2 schools_NN2 and_CC hear_VV0 about_II their_APPGE aspirations_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 talk_VV0 about_II how_RRQ the_AT schools_NN2 they_PPHS2 were_VBDR in_II before_RT did_VDD not_XX challenge_VVI them_PPHO2 and_CC how_RRQ their_APPGE new_JJ school_NN1 engages_VVZ all_DB of_IO their_APPGE abilities_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 schools_NN2 aim_VV0 to_TO have_VHI all_DB of_IO their_APPGE kids_NN2 enter_VV0 four-year_JJ colleges_NN2 ,_, and_CC many_DA2 of_IO them_PPHO2 achieve_VV0 that_DD1 goal_NN1 with_IW 90_MC percent_NNU to_II 100_MC percent_NNU of_IO their_APPGE students_NN2 ._. 
Every_AT1 visit_NN1 energizes_VVZ me_PPIO1 to_TO work_VVI to_TO get_VVI most_DAT high_JJ schools_NN2 to_TO be_VBI like_II this_DD1 ._. 
These_DD2 successes_NN2 and_CC failures_NN2 have_VH0 underscored_VVN the_AT need_NN1 to_TO aim_VVI high_JJ and_CC embrace_VVI change_NN1 in_II America_NP1 's_GE schools_NN2 ._. 
Our_APPGE goal_NN1 as_II a_AT1 nation_NN1 should_VM be_VBI to_TO ensure_VVI that_CST 80_MC percent_NNU of_IO our_APPGE students_NN2 graduate_VV0 from_II high_JJ school_NN1 fully_RR ready_JJ to_TO attend_VVI college_NN1 by_II 2025_MC ._. 
This_DD1 goal_NN1 will_VM probably_RR be_VBI more_RGR difficult_JJ to_TO achieve_VVI than_CSN anything_PN1 else_RR the_AT foundation_NN1 works_VVZ on_RP ,_, because_CS change_NN1 comes_VVZ so_RG slowly_RR and_CC is_VBZ so_RG hard_JJ to_TO measure_VVI ._. 
Unlike_JJ scientists_NN2 developing_VVG a_AT1 vaccine_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ hard_JJ to_TO test_VVI with_IW scientific_JJ certainty_NN1 what_DDQ works_VVZ in_II schools_NN2 ._. 
If_CS one_MC1 school_NN1 's_GE students_NN2 do_VD0 better_RRR than_CSN another_DD1 school_NN1 's_VBZ ,_, how_RRQ do_VD0 you_PPY determine_VVI the_AT exact_JJ cause_NN1 ?_? 
But_CCB the_AT difficulty_NN1 of_IO the_AT problem_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX make_VVI it_PPH1 any_DD less_DAR important_JJ to_TO solve_VVI ._. 
And_CC as_II the_AT successes_NN2 show_VV0 ,_, some_DD schools_NN2 are_VBR making_VVG real_JJ progress_NN1 ._. 
Based_VVN on_II what_DDQ the_AT foundation_NN1 has_VHZ learned_VVN so_RG far_RR ,_, we_PPIS2 have_VH0 refined_VVN our_APPGE strategy_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 will_VM continue_VVI to_TO invest_VVI in_II replicating_VVG the_AT school_NN1 models_NN2 that_CST worked_VVD the_AT best_JJT ._. 
Almost_RR all_DB of_IO these_DD2 schools_NN2 are_VBR charter_NN1 schools_NN2 ._. 
Many_DA2 states_NN2 have_VH0 limits_NN2 on_II charter_NN1 schools_NN2 ,_, including_II giving_VVG them_PPHO2 less_RRR funding_NN1 than_CSN other_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
Educational_JJ innovation_NN1 and_CC overall_JJ improvement_NN1 will_VM go_VVI a_RR21@ lot_RR22 faster_RRR if_CS the_AT charter_NN1 school_NN1 limits_NN2 and_CC funding_NN1 rules_NN2 are_VBR changed_VVN ._. 
If_CS you_PPY want_VV0 your_APPGE child_NN1 to_TO get_VVI the_AT best_JJT education_NN1 possible_JJ ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ actually_RR more_RGR important_JJ to_TO get_VVI him_PPHO1 assigned_VVN to_II a_AT1 great_JJ teacher_NN1 than_CSN to_II a_AT1 great_JJ school_NN1 ._. 
Whenever_RRQV I_PPIS1 talk_VV0 to_II teachers_NN2 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ clear_JJ that_CST they_PPHS2 want_VV0 to_TO be_VBI great_JJ ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 need_VV0 better_JJR tools_NN2 so_CS they_PPHS2 can_VM measure_VVI their_APPGE progress_NN1 and_CC keep_VVI improving_JJ ._. 
So_RR our_APPGE new_JJ strategy_NN1 focuses_VVZ on_II learning_VVG why_RRQ some_DD teachers_NN2 are_VBR so_RG much_DA1 more_DAR effective_JJ than_CSN others_NN2 and_CC how_RRQ best_RRT practices_VVZ can_VM be_VBI spread_VVN throughout_II the_AT education_NN1 system_NN1 so_CS21 that_CS22 the_AT average_JJ quality_NN1 goes_VVZ up_RP ._. 
We_PPIS2 will_VM work_VVI with_IW some_DD of_IO the_AT best_JJT teachers_NN2 to_TO put_VVI their_APPGE lectures_NN2 online_RR as_II a_AT1 model_NN1 for_IF other_JJ teachers_NN2 and_CC as_II a_AT1 resource_NN1 for_IF students_NN2 ._. 
Finally_RR ,_, our_APPGE foundation_NN1 has_VHZ learned_VVN that_CST graduating_VVG from_II high_JJ school_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX enough_RR anymore_RR ._. 
To_TO earn_VVI enough_DD to_TO raise_VVI a_AT1 family_NN1 ,_, you_PPY need_VV0 some_DD kind_NN1 of_IO college_NN1 degree_NN1 ,_, whether_CSW it_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 certificate_NN1 or_CC an_AT1 associate_NN1 's_GE degree_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 bachelor_NN1 's_GE degree_NN1 ._. 
So_RR last_MD year_NNT1 we_PPIS2 started_VVD making_VVG grants_NN2 to_TO help_VVI more_DAR students_NN2 graduate_VV0 from_II college_NN1 ._. 
Our_APPGE focus_NN1 will_VM be_VBI on_II helping_VVG improve_VVI community_NN1 colleges_NN2 and_CC reducing_VVG the_AT number_NN1 of_IO kids_NN2 who_PNQS start_VV0 community_NN1 college_NN1 but_CCB do_VD0 n't_XX finish_VVI ._. 
