"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) From Gathering Storm to Category 5: Five Years After "Rising Above the Gathering Storm", U.S. Competitive Position Has Declined Further, Report Finds; (2) "Prepare and Inspire": President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Offers Recommendations on Improving K-12 STEM Education; (3) New College Board Report Shows How Education Pays in More Ways than One; and (4) "Crossing the Bridge": New Report Studies Postsecondary Outcomes of GED Recipients.