It looks like the Gates Foundation is trudging an uphill climb in reforming the current state of the public school system. The foundation was intended to revolutionize the way education works across the states, ensuring that no child is left behind regardless of race or ethnicity; during its early years, the prospects were promising. With 27 billion dollars in funds to back it up and a software mogul at the helm, it’s hard to imagine that such a venture can go wrong. But it has, and the reason for the setback is a misstep in implementation.
At first, the Gates Foundation was particularly selective of the schools which it intends to take under its wing, choosing schools and school districts which bear the most potential for improvement. Success Tech Academy is an offspring of the program; the expenses for an entire curriculum year were paid for, and full support was provided in terms of professional development and the provision of technological amenities for all of its students. The teacher and staff were trained and kept updated to the latest trends in teaching, and in due time the school has become a public option for students who can’t keep up with the increasing education costs in the state of Cleveland, particularly those offered by the for-profit charter schools which dot the state.
Unfortunately, state subsidies which were pledged to keep such a school operating has fallen short in recent years, with [...]
