Education Reform

The latest U.S. News and World Report devoted their entire print issue to education reform (again). The lead editorial is linked here:

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/editors-note/2010/01/07/the-challenge-of-school-reform.html

After 15 years spent in the trenches I am becoming increasingly frustrated to read the latest trends, guesses, data, etc. It is really not as difficult as we make it out to be. What we lack across this country is the willpower to implement the necessary things.

What do I see as the keys to meaningful reform:

1. A guaranteed an viable curriculum (State driven at the least, and now is the time to really discuss and implement National Standards).
2. Accountability at all levels (from the custodian through the Superintendent).
3. Reward at all levels - Yes, I mean perfomance pay.
4. Focus - schools are asked to do too many things that serve too many masters.
5. Longer school years or at least a move away from an agrarian calendar (students do not need 3 months of summer).

Take a look at U.S. News and World Report's Education website. Great articles from multiple perspectives.
5.