Results matter.
Education management is a failed concept as far as State/Federal involvement is concerned.
The ignorance of American students should embarrass every citizen
Nothing but downhill after the creation of the DOE...
I love our parochial school. I wouldn't be against finding a marginal solution whereby the school could add more students. They have capacity, but there aren't enough families willing/able to pay the tuition.
The school has the highest test scores in the county. I think there are 6-8 students/class. 18-25/ class in public. The teachers at the parochial (generally speaking) are there until a higher paying public job opens up.
I would add that if a student has a behavioral issue or learning disability, they are sent to a public school where there are resources for both. That might help explain the test scores.
Also, the DoE was created in 1979. It just so happens that the decline of the middle-class can be traced back to that time. In fact, 1979 happens to be the year manufacturing jobs peaked nominally.
I would guess that a parents' pay has a greater correlation to student performance than any other factor. I could be wrong but it's got to be up there.
Producing worse outcomes/dollar, so we should stop spending dollars, isn't a logical argument, imo. There are too many other factors. Life has taught me that money can't solve every problem, but the lack thereof is never a positive. You’re not going to send the kids on 2nd street to our parochial and maintain those test scores. To make large changes-and let's call it what it is- is just an excuse to shift public funds to a preferred sect/constituency.
Also, ADHD, ODD, ADD, have probably always been around, and are only higher now, because we're more aware/test for those more. Autism, on the other hand, is legitimately growing. That too plays a small role.