Straight A's expands this approach from individual schools to entire states and districts. It says to those jurisdictions that opt to participate that Washington invites you to deploy your federal dollars as you deem best, so long as you demonstrate improved academic achievement within five years. In pursuit of that primary goal, states may utilize whatever education reform strategies they wish, including teacher training, charter schools, smaller classes, individual tutoring, longer days, more technology, etc. If they don't, it's back to the regulatory woodshed for the unsuccessful jurisdiction. Two very different views of education reform are now on the table.
Big decisions lie ahead.
How the 106th Congress settles this debate has immense implications for U.S. schools. Perhaps we can find out. We can try both at once. The Clinton approach, or something like it, could apply elsewhere. All that's required is for Congress to agree to this ambitious experiment.