"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) ESEA on the Way?: Harkin Eyes Next Month for Possible Committee Action on ESEA Reauthorization; (2) "Prioritizing the Nation's Lowest-Performing High Schools": New Alliance Brief Profiles Lowest-Performing Schools, Calls for Federal Action; (3) "Writing to Read": New Report Finds that Writing Can Be Powerful Driver for Improving Reading Skills; and (4) "Breaking the Cycle": New Report from Michigan State University Finds that Middle School Math Teachers Are Receiving Weak Training.