Thoughtful politicians and educators who genuinely want children to achieve should ponder this scary picture and pause to make certain that they put the horse back in front of the cart. Historically, state education agencies have overseen school districts, but averted responsibility for the schools' performance. Protected by union contracts and tenure, school boards, administrators, principals and teachers have sidestepped accountability as well. After two decades of promising school reform demonstrations, these excuses by the adults who preside over public education no longer hold water. To begin with, states should shine a bright spotlight on how well individual schools do in lifting the achievement levels of minority children who've chronically lagged behind.
Public exposure helps jolt educators out of their lethargy.
It may be necessary to invoke more draconian measures. Schools that habitually fail their students should be placed on probation or treated much the same as other bankrupt but salvageable enterprises. Remove the management, replenish the staff with capable replacements, and institute a recovery plan. The ultimate sanction that captures attention is shutting off financial support. Federal aid should be used to spur poor school districts to improve, not merely to subsidize their routine operations.