The latest evidence of the reluctance of the judiciary to get involved in education policy was seen in the ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court (鈥�,鈥� The New York Times, Jan, 19). In holding that the State Superior Court in 2016 erred in ordering the state to reform nearly every aspect of its educational policies, the decision showed common sense.
The plaintiffs in Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell argued that disparities in educational achievement by themselves are proof that the state constitution鈥檚 equal protection provisions were violated. But different outcomes occur for many reasons over which schools have no control. For example, some students work harder than others, while some students are born with greater aptitude than others.
The courts have usually limited their verdicts to disparate spending. Asking them to go beyond such determinations is not their responsibility. Instead, it鈥檚 the job of legislatures. But even they can do only so much. That鈥檚 why I believe we will always have an achievement gap in this country. Yes, we should try to narrow the gap, but that鈥檚 not the same as abolishing it.