"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) Getting Back to Average: American Fifteen-Year-Olds Rank 14th in Reading, 17th in Science, and 25th in Mathematics, According to Latest PISA Results; (2) "A First Look": New Report Finds Many Students Lack Skills Outlined in Common Core State Standards; and (3) "The Fiscal Survey of States": Despite Small Increases in State Revenues, Most States Still Facing Significant Budget Gaps, Report Finds. (Contains 2 footnotes.)