Waiting for Congress to Bail Out Schools Is a Risky Game of Chicken. Time for Districts to Come Up With Plan B — and for States to Help

Superintendents from 62 big urban districts signed a Council of the Great City Schools letter to congressional leaders saying schools need a $200 billion federal bailout to avert a “catastrophe” with “profound” consequences for the nation.With grim financial forecasts for K-12 education next year, leaders don’t want to make cuts if districts can get more money from the federal government instead. However, Marguerite Roza argues that this federal ask seems to be an incomplete strategy, and worries that districts are losing precious time by not taking steps now to mitigate the cost side of the equation as well.