SIMMONS: Keep a watchful eye on high cost of school reform - Washington Times

SIMMONS: Keep a watchful eye on high cost of school reform - Washington Times:

SIMMONS: Keep a watchful eye on high cost of school reform

By Deborah Simmons

-

The Washington Times

Sunday, December 25, 2011

**FILE** D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (Associated Press)

STORY TOPICS

• Education
• D.C. Public Education Finance Reform Commission
• Christmas

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ANALYSIS/OPINION

There’s a nasty little trend coursing throughout America, and while I hardly want to toss a bucket of cold water on your warm holiday spirits, a warning is in order as federal, state and local governments broach the inevitable passionate debates about education funding in 2012.

The next few months portend a reality show based on school reform going very, very badly.

Here in the nation’s capital, tempers could start as early as mid-January, when the D.C. Public Education Finance Reform Commission begins drafting a per-pupil funding strategy that will guide the hands of lawmakers and the mayor in developing education budgets for many years to come.

And if you look at Texas, Colorado and other states, such deliberations are already messy political processes that put government budgets and