Every action film has a hero who saves the day. In the movie "Flunked," the heroes are teachers and principals who are fighting the bad guys of declining test scores, failing grades and inferior schools. Their weapons? Creativity and determination. The happy ending? Improved test scores, passing grades and schools so desirable parents are waiting in line to get their kids enrolled.

The stars of the show are education professionals from Harlem to Los Angeles who have successfully confronted the problem of a faltering education system. You won’t see violence or suspense in "Flunked," but it is a scary show, as it foretells serious trouble ahead for American students.

The average American student is no longer able to compete academically. In Kansas, nearly six out of 10 eighth-grade students have substandard math skills, nearly half are not good readers, and four students out of 10 fail to graduate from high school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

These fundamental skills are critical in today’s workplace and economy, and recent studies indicate American students are falling far behind students in other countries.

But all is not lost. Student performance can be increased, and there are plenty of heroes out there who can lead the charge. The individuals showcased in this movie tell their stories of perseverance and how they changed the lives of students in their communities.

Ben Chavis is the Principal of an American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland, Calif. He turned what was one of the worst schools in the city to a top-performing school in the state.

Howard Lappin was the leader who turned the Foshay Learning Center in Los Angeles from a school no one wanted to attend to a place where parents and students fought to get in the district limits.

Steve Barr, founder of Green Dot Schools in Los Angeles, operates five schools that are combating the low performance of area students.

Karen Jones, principal of a school in Harlem, N.Y., has boosted the test scores of her students by leaps and bounds.

How did Ben, Howard, Steve and Karen do it? There was no one magic formula, but they and others share their stories of success in hopes of inspiring more education all-stars.

Kansas is full of potential all-stars. We have many dedicated, hard-working teachers, principals and parents. It’s time for us to realize that it isn’t a losing battle. We can increase student performance in Kansas and become a competitor in the world economy.

If you are interested in watching this film, it is available for purchase at www.flunkedthemovie.com.

Sarah McIntosh is vice president of programs for the Kansas-based Flint Hills Center for Public Policy.  To learn more about the Flint Hills Center, please visit www.flinthills.org.

The Week in Review