I'm waiting for some parents to sue the State of South Carolina over their PACT test (given to 3-8 graders to gauge skill level, progress, etc), but not because of the discrepancy between schools from poor districts and wealthy ones. The State of SC in its' infinite wisdom decreed that children with severe learning disabilities and various degrees of mental retardation have to take this test and pass on grade level. That may not sound like much to most people, but try getting a child who has mental retardation and is just realizing the link between letters and sounds to read a passage written on a 3rd grade level and then answer questions about what they just read. Or requiring them to write a composition when they have just mastered the art of writing their names (first only).
Being the parent of two Mentally Handicapped children, as well as two "Gifted" children, "Mainlining", putting Mentally Handicapped children in regular classes, was/is a stupid "feel good" idea. The only useful classes, are the ones designed specifically to help them.
But, then I am so bigoted, I also believe in "Gifted and Talented" programs.
Homogeneity, Putting smart kids in one class, slower in another, is often self policing, since the grapevine tells the pupils which teachers are tough, and which are easy.
I think that is the Feds with NCLB, not just the state of SC.