The Education Two Step.

       How well have we, as Americans, done on equal educational opportunities? I can tell you that according to experts in the field, minorities still suffer on this one. But even whites, in many school districts, get the short end of the stick.That shouldn't be in this country. But as sure as I'm sitting here, it does. If you live in an affluent community, your kids are going to go to a school that is far better equipped, then a less affluent neighborhood. It's likely that teachers will be higher paid and more effective.
       That's because funding for a school is determined, to a large degree, on the tax base of the housing in that district. So if you live among wealthier folks your kids will attend schools with better funding. If you live among poor people, your school will struggle to provide the minimum.
       The deck is stacked against the poor kid no matter how you look at it. They've been trying for years, decades, to make it work fairly for the poor, but they haven't been able to succeed. There are only two ways to make up for the difference in advantage. Either the state has to fund the poorer schools much more heavily or the school tax base has to be shared more equitably.
       Even then, without a home life that offers every advantage, like that of the wealthy, the poor still will be at a disadvantage, It's unlikely there is any way to make up for that advantage, except to begin to lessen the degree of inequality between the haves and the have-nots. That means no tax breaks for the wealthy, period. At least no tax breaks that don't actually help the poor just as much as they help the wealthy. And then put a cap on the upper limit.
       It's unlikely that this country will ever see a completely fair tax system unless lobbying becomes outlawed, along with political parties. Nobody should be thinking about income redistribution, but rather opportunity redistribution. Put everyone on a level playing field. Then let the best rise to the top.