News Why Finland's Schools Are Top-Notch On CNN.com, Visiting Professor Pasi Sahlberg writes about the main factors that prevent American students from achieving the kind of success that Finnish students attain. Posted October 6, 2014 By Pasi Sahlberg This story originally appeared on CNN.com on October 6, 2014.Millions of American parents spend countless hours trying to figure out how to help their children get better grades, better teachers or better schools.They may want to take a page from Finland, which is considered to have one of the leading education systems in the world. Finnish students consistently score near the top in the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, for reading, mathematics and science. The 2012 PISA results tell us that in these three subjects combined Finland ranks third after Korea and Japan. In comparison, American students' combined performance in reading, mathematics and science places the United States at 21st among 34 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.For some, education in Finland is utopia: a dreamland where teaching is the most desired profession, authorities trust schools and political parties agree on the direction of educational reforms.Continue reading on CNN.com. News The latest research, perspectives, and highlights from the Harvard Graduate School of Education Explore All Articles Related Articles News Taking a Page from the Bay State's Education Playbook Ed. Magazine Lecture Hall: Visiting Professor Pasi Sahlberg News The Finnish Education Ambassador Visiting Professor Pasi Sahlberg, author of the book 'Finnish Lessons' reflects on what the world can learn from educational change in Finland.