Maine

"Silvernail has led research on the topic of how schools can succeed despite poverty in the community or loss of funds. He said he viewed LePage's grading system as flawed because it didn't take into account funding levels, not that he thinks any school should be excused from excellence on that basis. Instead, he said measuring a school's efficiency, rather than just test scores and student achievement, would be more indicative of a school's performance."

"The department says the goal is to provide a tool parents and community members can use to hold schools accountable for explaining academic performance, but that is already happening. The result is more likely to be that schools, largely from lower-income areas, are simply shamed. The grading system was not created with buy-in from districts."

"If independent Portland lawmaker Ben Chipman's proposed legislation passes, college tuition could be covered for high-achieving Maine high schoolers living in poverty."

"Too often, Daughtry said, legislative sessions bring many ideas that are bright shiny toys' -- educational initiatives that are exciting but lack funding or take money from bread-and-butter needs at the district level."