Thanks to No Child Left Behind, elementary and secondary education is at a crossroads in America. And that could be good.

The well-intended, but highly criticized, domestic cornerstone of the George W. Bush administration set lofty goals for America's schoolchildren. It called for 100 percent proficiency in English and math by 2014. For various reasons, that prime objective will not be met. Many states and districts failed to make the required annual progress, and No Child funding gradually dwindled.

The Obama administration initiated its own "Race to the Top," but only a few states qualified for funding, and Virginia took a bye. After all, the state has its own Standards of Learning as an education accountability tool, and officials are now looking at ways to raise the bar with tougher 12th-grade testing and higher passing thresholds. Such moves are needed to maintain improvement.

But the federal government isn't ready to kiss off NCLB just yet. It in fact sees the 2014 deadline as a chance to overhaul the program. So far, there is bipartisan agreement-try that on for size!-that significant changes (including a new name) are needed after seeing the program founder for most of a decade. Let's see if the truce holds when there is actual legislation to debate.

Meanwhile, a few suggestions:

Provide federal funding with as few strings attached as possible. K-12 education usually is best managed at the local and state levels, where officials can best spot deficiencies. Let the districts determine where funding will do the most good-providing teacher incentives, replacing old textbooks, or making sure school roofs don't leak.

Avoid redundant testing and paperwork that take teachers and administrators away from what they are paid to do: teach children in a sound learning environment.

To achieve a national education standard, set guidelines for states to establish their own accountability programs. Other states have sought to emulate Virginia's SOL, and Virginia is happy to oblige with advice based on 15 years of experience.

The last thing the federal government needs is a health-reform-like showdown over education policy. What all parties should seek is a nation of children who graduate prepared to meet the rigors of a complex world.