The Public School Forum of North Carolina has a long history of tackling difficult problems facing public education in the state. Study Group XVI asks: What would it take to give every child in North Carolina the opportunity to receive a sound basic education? The challenges of poverty, racial isolation, and trauma are huge hurdles that require broad, systemic action. Three study group committees focused on: (1) trauma and learning; (2) racial equality; and (3) support for low-performing schools. The resulting action plans and recommendations contained in this publication aim to pave the way for renewed commitment to these issues, focusing on how to attack these problems in order to create public schools that prepare all students to succeed. Recommendations include: (1) Increase investment in high-quality early childhood education and intervention specifically serving grades K-3 in low-performing schools and districts; (2) Adopt area-wide school improvement strategies; and (3) Improve allocation of vital resources to support interventions that will attract and retain excellent teachers and school leaders in high-need schools.