[*winter*]

I don't know what to think about all these failing schools. In PA when a school is turned over to the state (at least in the cases I'm familiar with) it's a real quick invitation to get your act together, or go out of business (see Duquesne High School; Clairton City School District.)

However, in NJ, there are school districts (mostly "Abbott Districts" if you google that) that have been under state control for 10, 15 years. And guess what? They are still failing schools. Because just like the local governments, the state doesn't have all the answers either. I don't have a problem with state takeover, but if it's just going to be one more drawn-out burecratic bunch of nothing while kids continue to fail, what is the point?

The parents in the districts in NJ under state control don't think they have ANY say in what goes on in the school, which is sad.

This idea sounds really good on paper, but as you've pointed out, the execution of it is going to be a nightmare. Heck, around here, if they close one school, parents are in an uproar about increased busing times! How do they think this is going to pan out?