Even better, many of these schools are funded almost entirely by the state, but the deal comes with a catch: Failing schools don't just face student flight -- they can be shut down by the government.

Pity the low-income parents who have children trapped in failing schools.They want their sons and daughters to get a decent education, but they lack the means to make that happen. They watch Congress ...

Parents and children have quite a few decisions to make at the start of a school year. From clothes and computers to pencils and pens, the list of choices seems endless. And for many children, even ...