IMO, all of this started with the creation of the Department of Education. As soon as Fedzilla got its tentacles into local education, all local control, authority, and decision making ceased. As several posters have pointed out, when the community cares and looks out for each other, things work. But the uncaring evil monster controlling you from thousands of miles away destroys your community connection and your very humanity.
The best thing that could happen to education would be shutting down DOE and restoring local control.
I agree. Federal government has no business in education.