These children have already had their future decided for them. We know that there are children who cannot read at a 3 rd Grade level or perform basic math passed through our school system. Instead of education being a ticket out of poverty, schools have become a major element keeping them behind their peers. Likewise America has a strong tradition of local control of education. The nation's school boards have traditionally opposed, and in fact been wary of national mandates, particularly those that have been unfunded.
Local educators have a tendency to resist reforms that come from the outside.
For example, national standards would raise the threshold too high for some districts, yet would prove too mediocre for others. Survey after survey, politician after politician, and parent after parent suggests Americans are ready to address education issues. That is certainly true here in Chattanooga. We are all aware of the floundering state of public education. A vast difference exists between schools here locally, with a growing division in the achievement gap of our students.