After a quiet summer break, the volume is about to be turned up on such issues as accountability in education, school testing and the politics of the No Child Left Behind Act. Before it gets too loud, it bears listening to what kids have to say about their educational experience.

Peter Hart Research Associates polled students ages 13-19 for an annual report produced by the Horatio Alger Association and found that students want greater challenges and know the importance of preparing now for the real world. For instance:

•Less than a third of students say their school sets high standards.

•Nearly 60 percent said they were only moderately challenged by their schools; 12 percent said it was easy to slide by from grade to grade.

•Nine in 10 respondents said that if schools raised expectations and toughened requirements, they would work to meet them.

•A stunning 94 percent said they saw some college in their future.

•A total of 95 percent said they could benefit from more real-world assistance, such as internships; 92 percent said they wanted earlier guidance from teachers and career counselors.

The results of the survey dovetail nicely with efforts on multiple fronts to improve education in Idaho, Washington state and nationwide. And they fit it with what employers say they need from schools.

Most states have reported encouraging results thus far with their reform efforts, and students seem to be saying, “Don’t back off now. We need it, and we can handle it.”

That’s not to say that school reform doesn’t need tweaking.

Test results show that more resources need to be focused on middle schools, where students hit an achievement trough.

The achievement gap for minority students is narrowing, but those improvements will need to be hastened as tougher graduation requirements kick in. And if special education students and those for whom English is a second language don’t get more help, they will be hard-pressed to graduate.

Parents play an important role in this. The survey asked for one wish that could be granted among these choices: more time with family, more money to spend, a bigger house and more time for spiritual pursuits. Kids overwhelmingly chose more time with family.

Overall, the survey paints a portrait of young people who are well-adjusted, value a good education and understand its ramifications on the rest of their lives.

It’s encouraging that students see what many adult critics of education reform cannot. The next time you hear an adult launch into a gloomy assessment of the younger generation and education in general, tell them to listen to what the kids have to say.