Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Education opens doors for everyone to excel in life. To become a strong nation, its people, especially children, must have a good education so that the nation can continue to excel and become stronger. However, today America is suffering an educational crisis. Current statistics show that the United States lags behind other countries in education. The illiteracy rate is high and the graduation rate of inner-city children is low. The causes of this crisis are everyday problems such as lack of interest in school, poverty and standardized tests. There are many solutions to the problem, but one solution, professional learning communities, is most effective because teachers, administrators, and parents come together to help children. Despite the child's background, the school community comes together to help the school. The method used to test professional learning communities is a previous case study of PLCs in the Twin Falls, Idaho, school district. The entire school district is made up of mostly white, middle class families. The school created a School Quality Committee to create and implement new ideas to improve the school district and standardize core subjects. Ultimately, the entire student body improved on test scores and other assessments. Other case studies have been conducted on PLCs and other solutions are mentioned in this research paper. However, professional learning communities make a difference. American Education Crisis: Causes of the Problems and Solutions The United States ranks 17th in education. Finland and South Korea are in first place, while Japan and Singapore are immediately behind (mid-table). A crisis of poverty, not education, in the United States: Colonna. Available: USA Today. www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/12/10 education-poverty-international-student-assessment-column/3964529/. [March 23, 2014]Toppo, G. (2006, June 06). Big city schools struggle with graduation rates. United States today. Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-20-dropout-rates_x.htm?csp=34U.S. Spending on education tops the global list, study shows. (2013, June 25). CBSNews. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from "US education spending tops global list, study shows." CBSNews. Associated Press, June 25, 2013. Web. April 8, 2014. Whitaker, B. (writer) (2014). New study questions the value of college entrance exams [TV series episode]. On CBS Nightly News. New York City: Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-study-questions-value-of-college-entrance-exams/