[dmvdoug]

That's a really difficult question. I thought about it for a while, but I don't think I have any answers that would qualify (given the requirement to be "realistic").

It is super important to keep in mind, though, when thinking about public education that public schools are expected to serve a multitude of functions that are related to education only in the sense that they involve the same children who are our students (nutrition, counseling, social work services, etc.). And that's fine, I guess, if schools are where the social safety net has to catch vulnerable children. But that needs to be acknowledged and factored into how we think about schools.

[uxcolumbo]

What I mean with realistic was things that are not achievable in this decade.

Other than voting for the right political candidates, what can people do?

And how can we raise the status of teachers - like it is in Finland for example?

What isn't realistic in the short term is to solve poverty, which would help would to improve this situation.