I also wish they'd get rid of the Fed Educ. dept. holding money over states heads to hold them hostage to Randi Weingartens whims. She's another idiot.
You want to encourage improvement in education? Reduce class sized by 25%-50%. Actually make a teaching degree a degree with some substance behind it. And pay more salary to encourage better teaching candidates.
Then tell the parents to either get off their asses and discipline their kids at home and demand more results of their kids. I'm also for improving subsidies for single parent for childcare and after school childcare. Of course I'm also for kicking deadbeat dads in the balls until they step up and be great dads instead of assholes.