Left Behind

No, not the book...but the No Children Left Behind scheme.

Bush's spokesperson, Secretary Spellings has warned that Federal funds will be withheld from states that do not go along with the scheme. These are funds that have no relationship to education but are being used for blackmail purposes.

The New York Times said this..."Spellings should make it clear that Congress meant business when it declared an end to educational inequality and required the states to actually teach impoverished children in exchange for getting federal aid. Money is clearly crucial, but the argument over funds should not be allowed to derail the new law, which is already showing that achievement gaps can be narrowed if the schools apply themselves."

If Congress meant business, they would have included the funds. They didn't...they were simply posturing.

Yes, achievement gaps can appear to have narrowed...as long as students are "Taught to the test".