Boxing Kentucky educrats' ears

Never one to hold his rhetorical punches, Bluegrass Institute policy and communications director Jim Waters thrashes Louisville school officials trying to play duck-and-cover with data on failing schools:

"In responding to the report, Jefferson County Schools’ research director Bob Rodosky claimed the district, which enrolls nearly half of all black public-school students in Kentucky, was “blindsided” by the Bluegrass Institute’s report."
"Forgive me if I don’t offer a hanky, Bob. You have part of it right. You and others have turned a “blind” eye toward implementing real solutions that would go a long way toward improving the education of poor, black kids in your inner city."
"Twenty-three of the 35 “Tier 5” schools in Kentucky — schools failing to meet annual education goals for at least six consecutive years — operate in Jefferson County. Ten Jefferson County middle schools alone fall into the “Tier 5” category."
"And administrators chant “blindsided?”"
"Rodosky accused the Bluegrass Institute of “piling on” and attempting to paint the district “in the worst light possible.”"

Rather that accepting the official whining from Jefferson County Schools, Waters offers these solutions:

"I’ve offered many ideas in this column — more transparency, bringing best practices from good to struggling schools, merit pay for badly needed, high-quality math and science teachers — and more choices for parents."

Too many school officials refuse to stand toe-to-toe with these solutions. They prefer to cry and complain and demand more taxpayer money that we don't have. It's up to taxpayers to deliver a knockout punch to expensive and counterproductive "education" policies. The rest of Waters' column is available here.