President George W. Bush’s landmark education law, No Child…
President George W. Bush’s landmark education law, No Child Left Behind, required all schools to bring all students to high levels of achievement. But it ignored the fact that students from low-income households perform less well in school, on average than students from more affluent backgrounds. Given the current political and economic climate, a significant effort to reduce poverty is not likely to happen. So what can be done? Since they can’t take on poverty itself, education policy-makers should try to provide poor studentswith the social support and experiences that middle-class students take for granted: afterschool programs, summer camps, school-based health centers, and mentoring and enrichment services. Other countries already pursue such strategies. In Finland, which boasts high-performing schools, schools provide food and free health care for students. Developmental needs are addressed early. Counseling services are abundant. Why can’t we do the same thing here in America? The pattern of organization is ______________.