Reforms often fail because politics favors symbols over substance.
Things get done only if the data we gather can inform and inspire those in a position to make a difference.
What gets measured (and clearly defined) does get done.
School improvement is not a mystery. Incremental, even dramatic improvement is not only possible but probable under the right conditions.
In a healthy system, there is no blame.
When we unnecessarily elongate the process of "learning to read," we postpone "reading to learn learning itself - by years.