US education is in crisis. This history and analysis of the education system is an essential primer for parents, teachers, and school administrators, as well as parent teacher organizations, education majors, education administration majors, the media, politicians, and everyone who wants to see American schools do a better job. The author considers the genesis of public schools in the United States, various aspects of public education systems from elementary school through university, trends in education and reform, and issues that still need to be addressed. The book contains information about public and private organizations, think tanks, institutions, and governmental bodies involved in public education reform. The book shows the deficiency of the existing education system and compares it to more efficient systems. The author shows that most of the existing approaches to improve education are based on the same foolish idea that as long as government spending on education is great enough, the improvement will follow. The bond between education and politics hinders progress in education. The problems facing schools as well as the recommended solutions are considered. The author cites multiple research attempts to improve the functioning of the existing education system that have still failed to bring any tangible results. He uses his specialized knowledge to explain what should be done for educational progress to become reality.