I am beginning to believe (at last) if these problems could be corrected by conventional means, they would have been remedied decades ago. The new policies will be the "same ol', same ol'" failure in my indication. The proposed changes will be unpopular with administrators who fear loss of tax revenues and many parents too who do not want "little Johnny" subject to so much pressure.
It's not "little Johnny" I worry about. The teachers union in my state will fight it tooth and nail, just like they fight everything else.
Public education is circling the drain. The politicians just don't want to admit it yet.
It CAN be corrected by conventional means.
If, they had the sense to teach the three R's again, in elementary grades.(like they did in the 'old days') Those three R's make for a SOLID foundation to build on.
Whole language, fuzzy math and teaching to a test aren't good ways to educate kids.