It’s not bad teaching that got things to the current state of affairs. It’s pure, raw poverty. We don’t teach in failing schools. We teach in failing communities. It’s called the ZIP Code Quandary. If the kids live in a wealthy ZIP code, they have high scores; if they live in a ZIP code that’s entombed with poverty, guess how they do?

So what's a possible solution to the problem of poverty?

Mentorship, vocational schools, revitalizing downtown urban areas with healthcare, daycare, and better schooling opportunities. Financial literacy training.

Poverty is a vicious cycle; break the cycle and we can change a generation.