Fewer than 40 percent of Americans have a college degree. As the economy grows ever more dependent on a highly skilled workforce, this statistic speaks volumes about the future prosperity of the nation and its least-advantaged members. It also raises a critical question: What is being done to improve the educational attainment of the workforce? The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) addressed this question and examined how employers in four metropolitan regions are supporting the education of their employees. Data was collected from business leaders in Detroit, Memphis, New York City, and Miami. This executive summary presents an overview of the study, the findings, and key recommendations. [For the full report, "The Role of Business in Promoting Educational Attainment: A National Imperative," see ED593270.]