Originally Posted by indigo
While spending MORE money may not improve learning, how the money is spent may make a difference.

You might find a summary of the effects of unionization of teachers on student outcomes and teacher quality in this thread interesting:
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/248294/2.html

I think you'll find you're onto something, indigo, because of how funds in a unionized environment tend to be apportioned. If funds do reach students, more may in fact be better. But, as you say, the HOW is critical.

Originally Posted by indigo
cluster grouping by readiness and ability is cost-effective and tends to help ALL students learn more.

No arguments from this quarter. So are global grade skips, by and large, but those have similarly gone out of fashion despite evidence to the contrary.

What is to give light must endure burning.