Print edition: 
Before Kansas students can compete for jobs in the global economy, they must first learn employable skills. This will require some major changes in what and how we teach our K-12 students and how we fund our public schools.
First, we need to change our priorities. More emphasis is needed on preparing our students to earn a living and on financial literacy. Currently, more money is spent on a few players to win the Friday night football or basketball game than to teach our kids the work skills they need to get jobs.
Students in other countries are required to pass comprehensive exams before moving on to the next level. They are expected to come to school prepared to learn, do their homework and pass these tests.
But in Kansas, students can "skate through" to the next grade level with D's, goof off in class and not prepare to take their state assessments — and their teachers and schools get blamed if Johnny and Susie did not learn. This is wrong.
The No Child Left Behind law is an unrealistic, unfunded federal mandate that forces teachers to "teach to the test" without the students having any responsibility. Most of our teachers work hard to teach. It is up to each student to come to school prepared and work hard to learn.
In the meantime, our state should opt out of the No Child Left Behind testing and the unattainable goal of having every fourth- and eighth-grade student proficient in reading and math by 2014.
Also, in Kansas, as in most states, the school-finance formula does not equally distribute funds to educate each student. Filing another lawsuit to try to force the Legislature to appropriate more tax dollars without changing this formula will not give every Kansas student an equal opportunity to receive a quality, suitable education.
Instead, education and legislative leaders should work together to design and implement a formula that is fair and distributes our tax dollars and the resources required to teach the unique group of students attending each school.
Claiming that "we're No. 1" while ignoring the highly trained workers in other countries is burying our heads in the sand. We must take these issues seriously if America is going to get out of debt and maintain our standard of living for future generations.
Making these changes will require electing and appointing leaders with courage, vision and a willingness to ask tough questions. Vague answers are no long acceptable. We must face facts and make significant changes if Kansas students are going to qualify for future jobs.
