We need to introduce more competition into the equation. It's that simple. We can keep that competition in the public sector - I'm not ready to support vouchers for private schools - yet. We need more time to teach - we need longer school years. There are a lot of great teachers out there, but we need a lot more of them. Let's make teaching the best-paid, most sought-after, most competitive profession in the public sector. Let's expand Teach for America into a massive Teacher Corps - We'll forgive tuition loans for teachers who agree to work in rural areas, where school competition is tougher to introduce. No Child Left Behind is well-intentioned, but it's too rigid in its implementation. Let's redefine the criteria by which we measure success as the Bluegrass Institute suggests. It's time to sponsor a domestic program called, "Extreme Makeover - School Edition."

Problem: There is a huge disconnect between what schools teach and what businesses need.

Business leaders often complain that prospective employees don't possess the skills that their businesses require. I should know; I've seen it myself too many times.

Solution: Apprenticeships and internships.

Let's make apprenticeships a standard part of every curriculum. The Speed Engineering College at U. of L. has always followed this practice - let's expand that to include more disciplines. Let's get business leaders more involved in the education process by offering them tax incentives to do so.

Problem: We aren't graduating enough engineers to meet our needs.

I'm very worried that the demands of our increasingly complex society are not being met. We're not graduating enough engineers. Last year the United States graduated 70,000 engineers while China graduated 600,000. Per capita that means that we're still graduating more engineers than they are, but our technical requirements are much greater than theirs are - for now.

Solution: Larger tuition credits for engineering students.

We've got to do something to encourage more people to enter technical fields of study. It's as simple as that.

Problem: College tuition costs are skyrocketing.

Coverdell education grants can help, but they're not enough.

Solution: Increased deductions for education expenses.

Let's allow a full deduction for tuition costs - up to the current tuition amount charged by state universities.

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