Education - my suggestion to help fix a broken system

We are pushing our kids through school to be able to take test.  We teach them basic reading, writing, and math.  They are graduating (in fewer numbers each year) with no trade or social skills. 

I would like to do away with summer vacation, with a year round schedule.  A 3 month gap is way too long for kids to remember what they learned. If you are worried about those who work during summer vacation, maybe just do away with them for k-9.

We need more real like options offered like the new Career Technical institute in Salem, Oregon.  Bring trades back to high school. auto shop, welding, and wood shop, were all offered when I was in HS. We had a graduation rate of nearly 90% because kids saw real life applications of the math, science, and engineering they learned.     

A team in each school to follow up with chronic absenteeism and poor grades.  We need to break the cycle. A small team that is proactive in keeping kids in school and helping them succeed us a great investment.

End the draconian zero tolerance rules that cause many to drop out.  I can understand kicking a kid out for criminal acts (those that will land them in jail). But for bringing a bottle of OTC cold meds or getting into an argument (1st offence)?  Yes, chronic bullies need to be dealt with by anger management classes and separation until they can control their anger issues.  No tossing out on the street like yesterdays trash.

Expect more from students on IEPs and find ways to help them succeed.  Most of these kids are extremely intelligent, they just think and see the world differently. Instead of thinking outside the box they don't even see the silly box.  These are the Einsteins, the Ben Franklins, the Nikola Teslas and are our future. Help them succeed at all costs.

Stop teaching just to pass standardized test. Find was to engage the students, teach with passion and enthusiasm.