Federal investments in education are crucial so that students are prepared for success in a 21st Century global society and workforce. Investing in education is crucial to ensuring the future health of the economy and country's global competitiveness. Many students are not prepared for success in 21st Century society and to fill current and future jobs. A robust federal investment in education is necessary to equip schools with the resources -- personnel, facilities, technology -- to position students to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for college and career success. This brief presents statistics that illustrate the importance of investing in education to prepare high school and college graduates for jobs of today and tomorrow and ensure the future of the economy, including productivity, earnings, and tax revenues.