The Education Commission of the States released a report highlight 12 issues that will move education forward in 2012. Below is the list of 12 issues to the 12 for 2012 report (PDF):

1. Pre-K: Expanding the focus to P-3

2. K-12 finance: Creating and maintaining efficiency and financial accountability without lowering expectations

3. Blended learning: Getting moving. Getting it right.

4. Common Core State Standards: From talking to doing

5. Developing civic engagement in PK-12: State action in the absence of federal funding

6. Teaching quality: Fasten your seatbelts!

7. Rural: Enhancing the potential of education in rural America

8. Data: Access to what teachers and leaders need to improve student outcomes (and the skills to use it)

9. Individualized instruction: Faster. Cheaper. Smarter.

10. Performance funding: Building a model without a blueprint?

11. Remedial education: We know more now than we ever have

12. Credentials of value: Some are better than others