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Accountablity requires that some remedy for poor educational performance be found. We can argue about degrees of success and what remedy makes the best sense. Taking the kids out of a poor performing school seems to me to be valid in two ways.

And what happens to the students in the *receiving* schools, especially when the root causes of the transfer students' problems - drug using parents, illegitimacy, gang affiliations, etc. - are not addressed?

Well, in my post I indicated that poor performing schools should suffer consequences. But parental support for education is necessary as well. I submit that those who want to support education for their kids should receive support from the school. Those who have given their lives over to drugs or kids who have joined gangs should get the best education they can in the criminal justice system. I agree that bringing negative elements into public schools hurts the good students more than it helps the failing students. That is why I belive private schools succeed so well, they use their selective powers to help control the atmosphere in the school.