"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) Four More Years: Obama Wins Re-election, Plans to Continue Education Reforms Through Race to the Top, NCLB Waivers; (2) Dispelling the Myth: Duncan Defends NCLB Waivers in First Post-Election Speech; (3) Back to Business: Averting "Fiscal Cliff" Next Priority for Obama and Congressional Leaders; (4) Raising the Bar: More Kentucky Students Prepared for College and a Career, According to New Tests Pegged to Common Core State Standards; (5) Talking 'Bout the Young Folks: Record Shares of Young Adults Have Finished Both High School and College; and (6) "Teacher Absence as a Leading Indicators of Student Achievement": No Substitute for Teacher's Presence in Classroom, Report Finds. (Contains 3 footnotes.)