In some ways, it doesn't really matter how much we throw at the schools because they are expected to solve for very large societal problems such as the massive

In some ways, it doesn't really matter how much we throw at the schools because they are expected to solve for very large societal problems such as the massive inequality that exists in this country. In the US at least, schools bear the brunt of consequence of the lack of social safety nets. They are expected to not only teach but also raise kids that have no real parents (who are either working two jobs or the victims of a life time of poverty themselves) If we want to improve education, we need to take a broader look at inequality and the cycles of poverty that feed into each other.