I am on my iPad ... today Khan academy and others gives everyone access to additional coaching.
Are you aware that not "everyone" has access to the internet at home or after school? That many poor students don't have an iPad or even an old desktop at home? And that many poor schools don't have enough computers available for their students to use them individually on a regular basis?
Relevant ... I understand what you are saying about how can they help their kids with work they don't understand- but the school is not responsible- if they get extra guidance then it is wonderful and an extra not an expectation. Most communities have options to get the extra help- but you have to want it.
Actually,the school *is* responsible. That was supposed to be the whole point of NCLB, which happens to now be the law of the land, as much as the methods chosen to measure and enforce that message may be flawed. Accessing "extra help" independently requires having the resources to take advantage of it (access to and money for transportation, time off work, ability to read the flyers advertising the extra help, ability to fill out the registration forms...). It is more of a challenge for some families at the bottom of the economic and literacy range to make things like this happen than many people from more comfortable circumstances appreciate. There is a reason why we hear stories about extraordinary parents and children who were able to escape these kinds of circumstances and excel: they are notable because they are rare.
My vision is of a nation where all children, including the highly and profoundly gifted, will be able to receive a "free and appropriate public education". I think it is important that we recognize the reasons why the current system is not working for everyone, so we can make changes that will benefit all children, including the gifted.
