'65% Solution' Called Deception and Delusion

Backed by archconservative anti-tax proponents such as Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, the scheme seeks to force all local school districts to devote 65% of their operational budgets to "classrooms for the benefit of teachers and kids" -- using a narrow definition of "classroom" costs.

The National PTA, a steadfast champion for increasing resources for classroom instruction, flatly opposes the plan . The PTA says the scheme is "fatally flawed and will hinder, not help our nation's schools in accomplishing the goal of providing every child with a well-rounded, high-quality education."

In Texas, where Gov. Rick Perry imposed this "solution" by executive order, Texas State Teachers Association Public Affairs Director Richard Kouri calls the scheme the "65% Deception." Newspaper columnist Rick Casey dubbed it the "65% Delusion" in a column published by the Houston (TX) Chronicle.

And Mike Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel in Florida wrote in a recent column, "It's a simple-minded gimmick. A study by Standard & Poor's that looked at school budgets and test scores found no significant link between the 65 percent number and increased student performance."

But what is it really? Myrna Mandlawitz, a Washington D.C. education consultant, provides the answers to basic questions in "Debating Funding of Public Education: The '65% Solution.'"