Social and cultural factors doubtless play a big role in all this. Schools alone are not to blame. But the evidence is clear that what happens in the classroom matters, and that underperforming schools are contributing hugely to the problem.<\/p>\n
Fixing them is itself a multi-faceted challenge. In some cases, money is the issue. Local financing of schools means that students in rich areas are lavished with resources, whereas schools in poor areas are often starved. On the other hand, money is not the whole story. High-tax jurisdictions, such as Washington DC, have among the highest rates of spending per pupil in the country, and among the worst test scores.<\/p>\n
The keys \u201d\u201c and here comes the political challenge \u201d\u201c are accountability and competition. However you do it, through school vouchers if you want to be radical, or the faster expansion of self-governing charter schools if you do not, the crucial thing is to give parents alternatives to failing schools. This means firing the worst teachers and shutting the worst schools. Teachers\u2019 unions have a death grip on the system and are having none of it. In many parts of the country, sacking a teacher, however incompetent, is next to impossible. Will Mr Obama dare to face down this powerful Democratic party constituency?<\/p>\n