As part of an American effort to reduce poverty, national organizations, like members of the Learning First Alliance, must make a vigorous federal, state and local commitment to improving public schools. Only such shared commitment can move them towards a common vision for the public education system they need. In the past decade, however, the federal effort to help states and school districts improve public education has become distorted. They now have topdown micromanagement of their public schools without the support they require to succeed. What states and districts need from the federal government is the right kind of support to guarantee every child equal access to an excellent public school. The Learning First Alliance's members represent millions of parents, educators, and education policymakers who have the talent, knowledge and dedication to work with federal, state and local governments in achieving their shared goals. To this end, they advance principles for appropriate and constructive federal involvement in education.