But I don’t assume that the pie is going to get any bigger, nor that they problem is primarily about a lack of funds. I think a school district like La Canada has some built in accountability to provide quality services because there is probably a higher capacity for residents in your community to remove their children from the schools if quality of education were an issue.

But the situation in my neighborhood is much different, and the accountability of choice (or competition) isn’t here. I see in this school district a gross mismanagement of funds. So to add to the problem that you raise about fighting for a limited quantity of pie, the pie that is there isn’t used being applied well. Actually, in many cases it is just being wasted. And the limited options for my family and others very class determined.

To be clear, I’m not saying paying for private school is the solution. I actually wish the solution were greater accountability so that public education were the best education option. But I only think this will happen with the real accountability that comes not from threatening teachers, but from putting choice in parent’s hands, not limited choice to zip code.