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As the start of a new school year fast approaches, it is possible to find a few kids who will admit they are ready to go back.

There is something exciting about the beginning of a new year. The novelty will probably wear off after just a few days, but at first there is the excitement of new classes, teachers, books, opportunities, and catching up with friends.

This week the stores are full of families checking the school districts' requirements lists and filling their carts with notebooks, calculators and such. Kids spend their parents' money on new clothes and school supplies, oblivious to the cost. But the parents know money is tight, and perhaps it's tighter this year than ever before.

Due to state-imposed revenue limits, many school districts face referendums this year, asking the voters for more money just to keep teachers in front of their children and a school building over their heads.

It is sad that education has come to this. How did educating the next generation, upon whom our own future fate will depend, fall to such a low priority? Education is an essential investment that pays lifetime dividends. How have we lost sight of that fact?

The Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI) talks about the importance of the "Fair Funding for Our Future" initiative - and it certainly is important. The goal is to share partnership with stakeholders and policy makers to reform the state's school finance system.

The state's school finance system needs to be fair, sustainable, transparent, and accountable for results -- which is not the case as this time.

The DPI reports that it is also focusing on other innovations to transform education to better meet student needs, such as the recently adopted Common Core State Standards for English, language arts and mathematics. This is an effort to provide fewer, clearer statements of what students should learn at each grade level, and the standards are bench marked against expectations for college and careers to help teachers improve classroom instruction.

Working through the state's 12 CESAs, the DPI is bringing Response to Intervention to classrooms throughout Wisconsin. These screening tools help teachers determine what students already know and where they need more help.

Additionally, the DPI is working with other education partners on assessment reforms and a longitudinal data system that will provide a more accurate picture of student achievement. Better data will help allow for early warnings so educators and parents can intervene with struggling students.

Funding reform and the other innovation efforts have one goal - improved achievement for all students. But state and local educators can't do this alone. Our students need active involvement by parents and other community members to ensure that every child succeeds and graduates.

State Superintendent Tony Evers is certainly correct when he says that students should not have to endure cuts to their classes and threats to academic programs year after year.

We need a school funding system that provides predictable investments in our children's education, even in the most difficult of financial times.