"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) Senate Begins Debate on Education Spending Bill: White House Threatens Presidential Veto; (2) NCLB Timetable in Question: Discussions Bog Down Over Proposal to Provide Greater Flexibility in Meeting Accountability Provisions; (3) Schools Not Preparing Students for the Global Economy?: Americans Think Students Need Broader Range of Skills than Schools are Teaching; and (4) "The Proficiency Illusion": New Report Finds Definition of Proficiency on State Tests Varies by State, Year, Subject, and Grade Level.