What Good Are Standards If Funding Varies?

   The Common Core State Standards, adopted by the overwhelming majority of states and supported by the Obama administration, have worried liberals who question their quality and conservatives who fear they erode states’ traditional responsibility for education.

    At the same time, the budget pressure of the impending “fiscal cliff” could reduce federal support for education, which would add to the state and local responsibility.
    As these trends collide, we should all take a step back and ask: Should education standards and funding vary by state? If per-pupil spending is $13,384 in Philadelphia and $26,571 in its suburbs, how can one set of teaching standards make a difference?
    Yes, we should have a national discussion about what we feel is essential for all students to know. But, more important, we should have a national commitment to ensuring that every school has the human and capital resources to ensure that every child can succeed.

    For more information, or to join the discussion, go to http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/10/the-american-way-of-learning