Ruth A. Wienclaw opens this reference series with a history of the public education system in the United States. She stresses the importance of enacting comprehensive education reform and delves into the rampant educational inequality that exists between schools, noting that “the quality of education can affect not only the ability of individuals to compete and be successful in society, but also for the nation at large to be successful in the global marketplace.” Noelle Vance furthers the discussion by examining privileges and disadvantages within the United States education system. Vance also explores the relationship between an individual’s socioeconomic status and his or her ability to gain admission to colleges and universities.