Um, we spend the most amount of money per student in the nation (probably on par with the highest rates of spending per student anywhere in the world), yet we have results on par with the lowest proficiency rates per student anywhere in the country. 

This has nothing to do with partisan politics - funding for our state education for K-12 has been supported by both R's and D's, by every Governor, and by most communities. 

If we measure our commitment to students by numbers of dollars we spend per student - we are number one. 

If we measure our commitment to students by how well they understand the basics - math, science, reading / writing - we are dead last. 

How many times do we here the mantra - Its for the Kids... Really? If I'm a kid in this state and less than half the kids in my classroom are proficient in math, science and reading / writing - who exactly has been looking out for my best interests all this time?