[tcostell]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the disparity. I'm sure that in no time, the teachers unions and educational establishment will have those affluent schools performing just as poorly as the lower income districts.

[jiggyboy]

Indeed. What is now virtually the entire middle-school student body in CA suffered the abuse of the "whole language" scam during the years when they were supposed to be learning reading the "old-fashioned" (i.e., effective) way. Instead, they are noticeably crippled for life. The suggestion that half the students are performing well is good news by itself, and much better news than we have had for some years, and damn any alleged or (more likely) imagined disparities due to family income &c.

[willingtodie]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the disparity. I'm sure that in no time, the teachers unions and educational establishment will have those affluent schools performing just as poorly as the lower income districts.

Ain't it the truth.