It's really about where we focused for the last 10 or so years. We have approached education reform kind of like it's immunization.

The news in elementary schools is very good. Achievement is up in almost every state.

They're trying to get out from under the federal law. That kind of public opposition is often interpreted by local educators as permission not to try.

People with privileges fight to keep privileges.

That we have such problems is clear. The way to better results is less clear.

Having to take one brush-up course is not a big deal. But students who have to take two or three end up never completing anything in college, so it's something you want to fix.