Startling numbers were released by a public policy research and educational institute in Pennsylvania revealing the staggering number of taxpayer dollars spent annually to organizations that aim to maintain the "status quo" in the state's school systems.

According to the Commonwealth Foundation, over $59 million dollars was spent over the course of the 2009-2010 school year to organizations that frequently try to block initiatives aimed at providing families with school choice. 

"Taxpayers cannot afford to continue to fund and heed the calls for more money and more time while our students are held hostage by a system that cannot fix persistently failing schools," remarked Matthew Brouillette, a former teacher and school board member, currently with the Commonwealth Foundation.  "To continue this practice is a disservice to our children, parents, and taxpayers."

I  agree with Mr. Brouilette. Since children are all different, common sense tells us all schools should not and cannot be the same. Instead of continuing to pour good money into a flawed system, Pennsylvanians (and Americans, in general) should ask for greater school choice so families can choose schools that are effective, motivational and challenging for their individual children. School choice makes sense for all children, but perhaps especially for the students of the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the School District of Philadelphia, two districts which did not submit their data in an attempt to hide the number of children they are not serving well.

It is time states stop catering to the needs of organizations that are more concerned with money than providing ALL students with a quality education.