Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and others cite the pivotal priority of technology, advanced manufacturing, information solutions and financial services for Iowa’s long-term survival. They seek prominence in bio-renewable resources, value-added products and advanced food products and drugs. The Battelle Institute Report on Iowa’s Bioeconomy signals a crucial need — a talent pool for jobs resulting from Iowa’s bioscience research infrastructure investment.

Our students are not ready. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 49 of the 50 best-paying jobs will require post-high-school education. Seven of 10 students now graduate from high school without completing the coursework to succeed in college or the workplace.

Many Iowa high schoolers take only two years of mathematics and science while numerous countries require four years in those subjects. Some countries have more students in math, science and engineering than we have in our schools. Iowa spends less per student than five neighboring states. Fewer than one-fourth of Iowans 25 years and older have a bachelor’s degree – that’s below the national average and the lowest in the Midwest. Iowa’s educational crisis must be addressed by the 2006 Legislature.

The Battelle report notes that the United States has fallen seriously behind in science, engineering, technology and math. Six countries devote a larger economic share to scientific research. There’s a strong decline in the U.S. in patent grants and in science/engineering journal research and articles. Interest in teaching science, math and technology is waning, resulting in lost ground globally. Many current math and science teachers are near retirement.

If these trends continue, the National Business Roundtable and a dozen other business organizations warn that by 2010, more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers in the world will live in Asia. Although U.S. fourth-graders score well against international students, they fall near dead last by 12th grade in math and science. The Roundtable says America must double the number of science, technology, engineering and math graduates by 2015.

These and many more statistics affirm that we are at a critical crossroads. The Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce (ITW), a non-profit forum representing Iowa business, education and citizens, in its first report to Gov. Vilsack and the Legislature notes that Iowa business will be unable to compete if we do not act now.

ITW urges immediate implementation of legislation to support the doubling of youths earning a post-secondary credential by 2010, tripling the number by 2015, and completing a vision of “post-secondary success for all” by 2020.

Legislators must act in this session. First, they must first reverse crippling state trends, including low teacher pay. Iowa has fallen to 41st in the nation in average teacher salaries, which hampers our ability to retain quality teachers and attract new ones, especially in science, math and special education.

ITW calls for all students to study a complete curriculum of core subject matter and for schools to adopt uniform expectations for essential 21st-century knowledge and skills.

Iowa must develop and adopt a complete, system-wide “performance-based” strategy to assess student performance progress and to gain confidence that the entire educational system — public schools and districts, colleges and universities, and all related agencies — support learning in the most effective and efficient manner.

We must act today for the livelihood and overall future of Iowa’s youths and young adults. Business, labor, citizens, students and parents across Iowa can join ITW. Consider the stakes. Call your legislators.

Marvin Pomerantz is co-chair of the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce and founder and owner of Mid-America Group Ltd.