They see the students as data points and dollar signs. They spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on consulting from a for-profit business called the DMC (district management council). This is a nationwide thing, most states have at least some districts with contracts. It's all about how to boost state reading and math (esp. reading) scores on the state tests. So that means focusing on the "bubble kids" who are close to passing, not on sped and not on gifted. In terms of gifted ed, the DMC states that those kids are already meeting expectations so there is no need to make any investment in them.
