Our elected officials have some big math problems to solve this year, from an unsustainable $3.7 billion deficit to zero job growth. Education is the most important investment we make in our state's future, but it's where we're getting the worst return on our money. Low-income students are further behind in Connecticut than in every other state, and even our highest performing students are behind the top students in Massachusetts. It's time to change the way we deliver public education. Our system is systematically failing far too many Connecticut students who slip through our fingers every year. They can't wait any longer, and neither should we. (Contains 3 figures, 1 table and 17 footnotes.)