The worth and value of an education is rarely questioned. Its delivery, however, is often scrutinized.At all levels of government, leaders are evaluating education policies, asking how to keep teens in high school and how to help students across the spectrum succeed.As new education revisions are sought, the policies need to be creative, and lawmakers need to understand that more money can't be the only solution.Wyoming knows from experience that simply putting more money into education doesn't automatically result in improvement. Despite funding education at a high level, students statewide continue to struggle.Addressing the Legislature in January, Gov. Dave Freudenthal urged state lawmakers to look at the system and see whether the state is making the best investments for education.“Wyoming ranks first or second in nearly all of (the) ratings in terms of the funding effort, and then it falls off,” Freudenthal said. “Whether it is test scores, matriculation or dropout rate, we are in a position where the only ‘A' we get on the report card is for funding.”In his address to Congress and the nation Tuesday night, President Barack Obama encouraged parents to engage in their children's education. Schools may open the doors of opportunity, but it's up to parents to make sure children walk through them, he said.“In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent-teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child … responsibility for our children's education must begin at home,” Obama said.With uncertain economic times, the value of an education is clear. We can hope that lawmakers and educators successfully reform the current system, but as Wyoming shows, it's not just in the funding. Education starts at home.

The worth and value of an education is rarely questioned. Its delivery, however, is often scrutinized.

At all levels of government, leaders are evaluating education policies, asking how to keep teens in high school and how to help students across the spectrum succeed.

As new education revisions are sought, the policies need to be creative, and lawmakers need to understand that more money can't be the only solution.

Wyoming knows from experience that simply putting more money into education doesn't automatically result in improvement. Despite funding education at a high level, students statewide continue to struggle.

Addressing the Legislature in January, Gov. Dave Freudenthal urged state lawmakers to look at the system and see whether the state is making the best investments for education.

“Wyoming ranks first or second in nearly all of (the) ratings in terms of the funding effort, and then it falls off,” Freudenthal said. “Whether it is test scores, matriculation or dropout rate, we are in a position where the only ‘A' we get on the report card is for funding.”

In his address to Congress and the nation Tuesday night, President Barack Obama encouraged parents to engage in their children's education. Schools may open the doors of opportunity, but it's up to parents to make sure children walk through them, he said.

“In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent-teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child … responsibility for our children's education must begin at home,” Obama said.

With uncertain economic times, the value of an education is clear. We can hope that lawmakers and educators successfully reform the current system, but as Wyoming shows, it's not just in the funding. Education starts at home.