"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) Congress Begins Budget Debate: House and Senate Budget Plans Accommodate President Obama's Education Proposals; (2) "Short Sighted": New Alliance Report Calls on United States to be a More Active Participant in International Benchmarking; and (3) "Neither Rest nor Tranquility": Former Senior Advisor to British Prime Minster Says School Reform in the United States is at a "Critical Juncture"; Decisions Today Will Impact America's Capacity to Succeed in the Future. (Contains 2 footnotes.)