The arts significantly boost student achievement, reduce discipline problems, and increase the odds students will go on to graduate from college.

Far too many of our children today, our students, need remedial education. We have been lying to them. They're not really ready for college. That's not higher education's fault. That's our fault K-12.

About two-thirds of bachelor's degree holders borrow to go to school, and on average they're graduating with more than $26,000 in debt.

The arts significantly boost student achievement, reduce discipline problems, and increase the odds students will go on to graduate from college.

To encourage more top-caliber students to choose teaching, teachers should be paid a lot more, with starting salaries more in the range of $60,000 and potential earnings of as much as $150,000.

There's so much that we're doing wrong today. And studies show we're one of three countries that doesn't invest more in disadvantaged communities.

I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina.