International Journal of Business, Management and Commerce (IJBMC)

American is one of the greatest nations on the globe, but the public-school system is falling behind school systems in Europe. The research indicates that even some under developed European countries score higher than America in student performance. Despite this failing in the public-school system, America’s university system is the best in the world. The research uncovered several causes for poor student performance including low teacher salaries, overcrowded classrooms, U.S. educational polices, and a lack of accountability. Universities in America excel because of competition surrounding academic performance, cost, and a diverse educational system. To improve the performance of American public schools, teachers must be paid more, and the government must spend more money on educating students. Teachers should no longer teach to the exam, but provide students with a well-rounded education with high quality instruction where students are encouraged and coached to succeed. The best solution is to follow the Finnish approach where teachers are offered attractive salaries and benefits, which increase competition in the industry. Using this approach teachers are better trained, which in turn improves student performance scores.