How to build a better launch pad for young Americans: a commonsense plan that congress can pass now.

• Author: Edwards, Mark
• Position: OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA

Study after study confirms that economic mobility--the opportunity for people to chart their own destiny based on hard work, perseverance, and the belief in a brighter future--is fading in America. A child born today into a low-income household in Canada and nearly a dozen European countries has a better chance of improving his or her economic situation than a similar child born in the United States. As one British politician said recently, "If you want the American Dream, go to Finland."

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What's going on here? One of the most powerful factors correlated with a community's opportunity level, as measured by the indicators in Opportunity Nation's Opportunity Index (see page 43), is the number of young people aged sixteen to twenty-four in a community who are "disconnected"--both out of school and out of work. In the United States, at least 5.8 million young people fit that description. Their wasted talent is not only a tragic loss for them personally; it also damages our communities, our national economy, and our global competitiveness. All told, youth disconnection costs taxpayers $93 billion a year in lost revenues and increased social services. (See Richard Florida, "The Living-in-the-Basement Generation," page 48.) These young people represent an opportunity for the nation to tap the talents of millions of potential leaders and productive workers at a time when America's skills gap is significant.

While state and local leaders are already pursuing successful strategies to create more robust education and career opportunities for young adults (see Dorian Friedman, "Connecting Kids to College and Careers," page 58), federal policy also plays a critical role. The following road map can ensure that all of America's young adults get a fair shot at moving up the ladder and contributing to the health and vibrancy of our society.

Increase pathways to success for all youth.

Over a lifetime, the earnings difference between a high school dropout and a college graduate is more than $1 million. Yet too many young people are dropping out of high school, at a tremendous cost to themselves and the country. Although high school graduation rates have been improving over the last decade, especially for African American and Hispanic students, more than three million young people aged sixteen to twenty-four were high school dropouts in 2010--a number that is still unacceptably high.

The answer to solving this crisis is to first recognize...