ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Missouri and Illinois don’t fail but come awfully close in a new report on how well America’s schools are performing.

Twelve states got F’s on their public school policies, according to the advocacy group Students First. CEO Michelle Rhee says no states received an “A” and the two highest ranking states – Florida and Louisiana – only received a B-minus. Illinois received a “D” and Missouri a D-minus.

“It is very clear on lots of different indicators that the American public school education system is really struggling right now,” Rhee said.

“We really believe the pension system has to be reformed and the policies we look at also cover things like teacher evaluation systems and making sure we are evaluating teachers, as well as things like tenure and “last in-first out” policies,” she added.

Rhee says Missouri is behind when enacting critical education reforms and should free teachers locked into the state’s existing pension system by offering more attractive, portable retirement options.