Even in the wake of recent history in Kansas City, some judges remain persuaded that even politicians can’t spend enough on schools:

Spending on public schools nationwide has skyrocketed to $536 billion as of the 2004 school year, or more than $10,000 per pupil. That’s more than double per pupil what we spent three decades ago, adjusted for inflation–and more than we currently spend on national defense ($494 billion as of 2005). But the argument behind lawsuits in 45 states is that we don’t spend nearly enough on schools. Spending is so low, these litigants claim, that it is in violation of state constitutional provisions requiring an "adequate" education. And in almost half the states, the courts have agreed.

Arkansas is one such state, and its "adequacy" problem neatly illustrates the way courts have driven spending up and evidence out. In 2001 the state Supreme Court declared the amount of money spent at that time–more than $7,000 per pupil–in violation of the state constitutional requirement to provide a "general, suitable and efficient" system of public education. Like courts in other states, Arkansas’s court ordered that outside consultants be hired to determine how much extra funding would be required for an adequate education.

The ensuing circus is so sad it’s almost funny. Read the whole thing, as they say.

As No Child Left Behind is currently constituted, each state establishes its own standards by which schools are measured.  But should some sort of nationwide standards be established? 

Michael J. Petrilli is Vice President for National Programs and Policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, and co-author, with Frederick M. Hess, of No Child Left Behind: A Primer (available here).  Neal McCluskey is a policy analyst with Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom.

More “April 24-28: Michael J. Petrilli vs. Neal McCluskey on National Standards”

Florida voucher controls within reach - This year, lawmakers appear to be closer than ever to enacting legislation that would tighten rules on how state money is handled by the schools and parents. The House passed its version of the bill on March 29. The Senate is scheduled to debate its version next week. (more)

Lawson’s vote switch roils Black caucus - Sen. Al Lawson disappointed Democratic colleagues at a caucus meeting Thursday morning when he refused to agree to vote as part of their bloc against a bill that would amend the constitution to protect school vouchers. (more)

Bargains begin in Florida over class size - Old-fashioned pork-barrel politics could shape the outcome of today’s Senate showdown over a Republican plan to weaken the voter-approved class size limits in Florida schools. (more)

Kentucy coalition calls for more accountabiity, school choice - There will not be meaningful change in Kentucky’s schools until parents are fully empowered to decide which school is best for their children and the funding follows those decisions. (more)

Kansas Senate to study NCLB - Kansas senators considered taking a step back Thursday from the federal No Child Left Behind Act but, in the end, decided against it.After an hourlong public hearing, they agreed to recommend further study of the idea. (more)

Philadelphia will seek share of $100 incentive to improve teaching - In a visit to Philadelphia yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings touted a $100 million federal fund to reward teachers and principals who raise student achievement in high-need schools, and city schools chief Paul Vallas was eager to apply for a share. (more)

Tutoring didn’t pay off in Minneapolis - The dominant provider of required after-school tutoring in Minneapolis didn’t produce any better reading gains last year than those for students who skipped tutoring. (more)

Ohio schools have more money despite charter school drain - School districts have long blamed charter schools for their money problems. Although they are losing thousands of students — and the more than $5,000 in state money that follows each one –– to charters, some districts actually have more money now than they did before charter schools opened (more)

4 out of 5 Mass. candidates for governor send their kids to private schools - Nothing wrong with that — millions of parents would move their kids out of public schools tomorrow if they thought they could afford something better. (more)

Return later for more education news.

UPDATE:

NY judge stymies mother’s attempt to have state fund child’s tuition - A judge has shot down a Queens mother’s attempt to get the state to pay for her children to attend private school… (more)

Justice denied again - Justice Leland DeGrasse gets a "C" for effort for his latest ruling in the Dianne Payne case since he has at least typed out a short ruling dismissing her plea for school vouchers for her children… (more)

Vote on South Carolina tax credits missed deadline, but may return - Tax credits for private and public schools and a higher levy on cigarettes missed a key legislative deadline for passage Thursday. But they are likely to be back, forcing House members at least to cast high-profile votes next week. (more)

Seems like Oprah can’t take a hint - While at The Meyerhoff to raise money for a private school, Oprah Winfrey blasted Baltimore public schools and said she had considered - but decided against - contributing some of her millions to the system. (more)

LA mayor endorses universal preschool measure - His call for city voters to support Proposition 82 is the latest in a flurry of announcements both for and against the initiative that reveal a surprising lack of traditional partisanship. (more)

Texas Houses passes fair school finance reform - Following Gov. Rick Perry’s leadership, he House has passed a comprehensive reform of the school finance system that provides a 33 percent reduction in property taxes, a net tax decrease of $6 billion over the next three years… (more)

Chicago union: Most teachers fired got high marks - One day before nearly 1,100 nontenured Chicago Public Schools teachers formally get the ax, the city’s teachers union released the results of a study Thursday… (more)

Baltimore Sun editorial: Help more disabled students - The decision by Baltimore school officials to stop fighting a federal court order requiring the state to take more responsibility for special education in the city is a triumph of good sense over pride. (more)

Des Moines: Don’t forget about teacher training - Training for teachers should be a high priority as legislators and the governor wrap up negotiations on education funding. (more)

North Carolina test scores up, but more live in poverty - Children in North Carolina have made some strides in academic competence and smoking prevention, while conditions have worsened for youngsters who don’t have medical insurance, live in poverty and drink alcohol, a child advocacy group reports. (more)

What does it mean, that Utah’s last in per-pupil spending? 

More “Four Thoughts On Utah’s Per-Pupil Spending (Sarah Natividad)”

A while back I read an interview of an economist who identified two issues of greatest economic importance:

Two things, I think, things that people are missing and that, if we keep ignoring them, are so dangerous that they could kill our economy: immigration and education.

That was waaaaay back in 1997.  And today?

Californians are increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied with their public school system, and so skeptical about government’s ability to spend money wisely that they oppose any general tax increase to improve education, according to a statewide poll scheduled for release today..

Nearly two in three Californians believe the quality of education is a major problem for the state, and only one issue — immigration — is seen as a higher priority for state government, according to the poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California. More than nine in 10 people surveyed said education was shaping up as an important issue in the upcoming race for governor.

We’re not terribly surprised the man on the street agrees (albeit probably for different reasons in the case of immigration).  But will even this significant public sentiment translate to some action in Sacramento?  On one hand, optimism is a bit hard to come by.  Lest we forget, Arnold Schwarzenegger was here just a fortnight ago.  Remember those ballot proposals from last November–one of them a proposal to stiffen requirements for teacher tenure?  The message from the NEA: don’t you lay a finger on us, understand?  

That defeat, coupled with overall poor public opinion of Schwarzenegger when he’s up for reelection, might leave us with the impression that he’s too busy fighting for political survival to pick another fight with the union.  But with the Governator publicly supporting Villaraigosa’s takeover proposal, it seems Schwarzenegger is ready for a second round. 

And, of course, we have a dog in this race: aside from the possible LAUSD takeover, we (meaning the Alliance of School Choice) and CURE filed legal action against the LA and Compton school districts.  (Go here and here for discussion on the filing.) 

Bottom line: after years of merely throwing money at the education crisis, could legal prodding and Villaraigosa’s proposed shakeup force Sacramento to try something different for a change?  Here’s hoping, anyway.