It is not the legislature who should address the problems, but the local
administrators and citizens who must lead the charge. The state
legislature (and the U.S. Congress) will respond to the will of the
voters. (In fact, they run scared when locals get their dander up.)
Too many times, I have heard mumbo-jumbo about why-we-can't-do-that,
because of laws or court decisions or fear of some dire consequence. When
I ask for specifics, to back up some assertion, I get no response.
Conclusion: It's just easier to do nothing, and blame someone else.
Consequence: Our public schools are not doing the tasks they need to do.