As time marches inexorably on we find ourselves just a few days away from the dawning of a new year. With that celebratory sip of champagne at 2400 hours on Dec. 31, we christen 2009. I will clink the glasses of those I am with to toast a year where we will witness the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (formerly No Child Left Behind), which puts public education back on the right course. We have been off course for far too long.

It is with the highest of hope that in 2009 we search for a way to survive an economic tsunami. In order to pull ourselves out of this global crisis, we will spend some of our grandchildren’s money to prop up the economy through a stimulus package of close to $1 trillion. In doing so, we must reaffirm that education is the key to economic growth. The new Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, must extent his big hand (he can palm a basketball) and ask for, let’s say, $100 billion.

Using that round figure, roughly 10 percent of the total stimulus package, here are a few suggestions on how to spend it wisely, so we don’t need another humungous stimulus in 2059.

• Quality preschool education makes a tremendous difference in preparing children for school readiness. So, President-elect Obama and Secretary Designee Duncan, let’s make certain we train and hire enough quality preschool teachers so that every three- and four-year-old child in America can attend. The Perry Preschool study in Michigan demonstrates we will save four times what we spend.

• Accountability for all public schools is essential, however, we must get away from rating schools on how their students perform on fill-in-the-bubble tests. One former Commissioner of Education, Ernest Boyer, said he could teach a monkey to get 30 percent correct on bubble tests. Let’s make the terminal grades of 5th, 8th, and 12th, where students are tested on these performance-based assessments such as speaking, writing, reading, estimation, measurement, music, art, world language, physical fitness, history, civics, nutrition, and science. Let’s also agree on National Educational Standards.

• Pay teachers significantly more for their exemplary performance. Many teachers get students to demonstrate significant progress even if they are disadvantaged. Let me use the figure of $150,000 (at least in expensive places such as Silicon Valley) for the best teachers. The federal government can find a model of performance pay that works for teachers, unions, parents, students, and administrators. Let’s also increase the work year to 210 days, with students in school 200 days (instead of 180) and teachers paid for 10 days of professional development. Raising the salary of 10-25 percent of all teachers will help with recruitment and retention.

I am not certain what this annual increased cost to the federal budget will be, but I know it will be money well spent.  After the economy recovers, we can begin to pass the cost on to the states to pick up those portions of the education stimulus that work.

I wish you all the best of 2009. May we ring it in with a commitment to make public education part of any economic stimulus package. Cheers.