The state Legislature must accomplish mission impossible this session. In the worst budget cycle in decades, lawmakers still must pass reform legislation that propels schools into the 21st century. The price tag will be in the billions, but not now. This is a decades-long investment. Education-reform bills in the state House and Senate would essentially redefine basic education. Early learning would be included, not for every child, but for those who need a head start on learning. Early-childhood education is the single best investment toward reducing the achievement gap and improving overall student achievement.

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