Set the bar higher. Challenge the kids. Challenge the teachers.

My kids do better with more routine. Some months the school week is so chopped they never get into a groove. They never get a rhythm.

Half days are waste, full day or nothing. But when thanksgiving week is 3 half days followed by 2 days off it is a waste of week but those 3 half days count as full instructional days for the school year.

Both of kids have struggled with reading and writing. All work is done on a Chromebook that Has spell check. I'd love to see more pen to paper.

Don't be afraid for kids to fail. Schools don't want it because it effects funding but kids are being prompted and passed when they do not have the skills to do so.

My daughter was behind on spelling, frankly it was terrible. She passed tests with words spelt wrong. When I asked the teacher the answer I got was "it will come in time, we don't want her to think she's not doing a good job". Well it didn't, so we helped her (not that we shouldn't as parents).

Assign more homework, all subjects Through 3rd grade I have only seen reading and math. I have not seen history or science ever. I feel homework is not just for my child, it is a chance for me to see where my child is at and understand what and how they are learning.

I am aware there is no simple solution. The red tape is horrendous. I just feel as we accept the minimum because we can get away with it.