National standards might seem impossible in light of America's passion for local control of schools. Families expect IDEA, bilingual education, Title 1, and other federal programs to be available. Besides, setting national standards does not mean forfeiting local control. Make sure all students can read. We could debate how to teach reading forever and a day, but the important thing is to make sure Johnny and Jane can figure out what's on a printed page.
Children learn in different ways, and teachers have their own teaching styles.
As long as students learn to read, the methodology will be less subject to the acrimonious debates that have divided educators for so many years. Improve the quality of teaching. I don't want to bash teachers, but we must recognize that the quality of teaching is often the single most important factor in the success of student learning. Never before has educational research had sounder information about the learning process. We need to share that information with those who work in the classroom.