Inspired by our societal penchant for New Year's resolutions -- which unfortunately are usually diluted by the time of January's estimated tax payments -- some thoughts gelled on systemic needs for resolutions on both research and change in US public education systems to bolster still sputtering national attempts at K-12 modernization.

The hypothesis is that generally effective change of our massive, diverse and frequently reluctant school systems will depend on coincidental progress in mediating most of the list.  An analogy is our national debt/deficits:  Ballyhooed reductions in discretionary spending may reduce that debt by a posited 100 billion dollars (while destroying progress of decades in many areas), but viewed against deficit and debt levels in trillions, with roots in entitlements and defence, it is draining the lake with a bucket.

Emphasis on systemic issues, versus the need for tactical and evidence-based work on how preferential learning outcomes are achieved in the classroom, in no way diminishes the need for the latter changes.  Over the long haul though it is the layering and sustainability of such changes, along with their broad institutionalization that will effect US world standing.

Here are fifteen items perceived as components of strategically sustainable public education change.  Be aware, some of these are radical for public education; simultaneously, at a generic level none are unique when viewed against the backdrop of theory and prior research on social issues and social and organizational performance.