Calling the reformer's bluff

We've written in this space about the trappings of NCLB and how the proposed changes in Congress may not really be significant anyway. But John Kuhn, a superintendent in Texas wants the reformers to put their money where their mouth is.  He wants to see more work done to address the bigger issue: poverty. Says Kuhn:

“I’m calling for data-driven equality, modeled on Kress’s work, expanding it to force greater societal changes that will help teachers bridge the achievement gap."

While teacher quality may be the top in-school factor for student success, the larger issue is socioeconomic status. A recent article in the Washington Post highlights this in looking at the growing achievement gap between white and minority students in D.C. Public Schools.

The "reformers" want to focus on more tests and fewer teachers because that helps their bottom line. But what about addressing the root causes of these students problems?