Conclusion

Pursuing the two-fold strategy suggested here will lead to a different and renewed idea of education, one that serves the, public interest and prepares our young people to live, work, and compete in the next century. The resulting system will have high academic standards for all students, test for results, and provide teachers and principals with more flexibility and less red tape while giving families more choices among schools. Viewed in this way, an education that focuses on outcomes is a cure for what ails America's schools.