Why School Reform Can’t Wait

A Post-Dispatch editorial describes the tragedy of public education in St. Louis:

Public education can be an avenue to unlimited opportunity. Yet tragically, far too many young people in St. Louis, especially African-American males who drop out of school, find themselves stuck on a dead-end street.

That sad fact often gets drowned out in the political uproar surrounding the state intervention now underway in the running of St. Louis public schools. It’s worth reflecting on as the new leaders set their goals and strategy.

The consequences of poor schooling are devastating for black children, for the neighborhoods where they live and for the community at large.

This is why we need to allow St. Louis children to attend better schools, right now. A tuition tax credits program would do just that. Improving public education is a process that takes many years–and so far we haven’t seen much improvement. In the meantime, children in St. Louis are losing the chance to get an education. The conflicts between students and government officials show how desperate the situation is for the students and how few alternatives they have.