In many ways, education is a local concern. Schools are a reflection of the people they serve, and communities should have say-so in the direction of the schools their children attend. But the federal government has an appropriate role to play, especially when it comes to promoting cutting-edge opportunities for students — like the STEM programs. I’ve read that in China, roughly 40 percent of college students are engineering majors; in the US, it’s only about six percent. The right priorities and incentives can help us boost these numbers.