My beef is more at the local-state level. Where I'd neuter the teacher's union.
This is what I have noticed in my experience. Paying more does not get a better result.
See State of Utah. They spend very little per student and have high ACT-SAT scores. Verses Minneapolis School district, which spends more than $10000 per student and has a high drop out rate and low test scores.
Wait, you want national stuff...
must...talk... national... stuff...not...local.