The policy is essentially a product of negotiation, of power and discretion, not law.

The law sets out what seem to be very clear goals and consequences. However, as researchers predicted before the law was enacted, huge numbers of schools would be branded as failures, including many that are seen as successes and often have rising achievement levels. In response, the administration is permitting a wide variety of changes that lower the failure rate.

We're proud to say that we're moving ahead per discretion of law and making the right choices for the building of our recreation centers,

(What's happening in Bibb County) is kind of characteristic of what's going on across the country.

We have had a quarter century of tuition going up faster than family income. And we've had completely inadequate increases in the Pell grant. Many states and institutions are shifting from need-based aid to aid based on test scores. At the same time, college has become much more essential for achieving middle-class status in the U.S.

The Pell grant is already too low for most needy students who go to four-year colleges.