Dr. Benjamin Carson orated an astounding speech at the National Prayer Breakfast 2013 and seems to have common sense solutions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyyHegP255g (~27min)
Regardless of your religious stance the message rings clear that we are not moving forward in education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ML3qYHWRIZk (~4min)