"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) "Setting the Stage for New High Schools": Alliance, National League of Cities Cohost Capitol Hill Briefing on Alternative High Schools; (2) "Kids' Share 2008": Report Finds Federal Spending on Children's Programs Getting the Squeeze; (3) Schwarzenegger is X Factor in Math Debate: California Governor's Influence Leads State Board to Mandate Testing Every Eighth Grader in Algebra. (Contains 2 footnotes.)