Arizona
California
Indiana
more?

http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Literacy/stats.asp
http://www.childrenofthecode.org/interviews/w...
http://www.wonderofreading.org/statistics.htm

I was asked:

I think it sucks that this is an acceptable method for determining prison budgets, the failure of the public school system. Why not just get rid of public schools, as they obviously aren't working?

There are several factors that all come together in government--and no other systemic organization--that will necessarily lead to such results:
- no profit motive; no need to excel or improve; competition is irrelevant
- no accountability; government even controls the way its components can be
"reformed" so there's no real power in the people at large
- the power of force, through law and law enforcement; this leaves no ultimate recourse to the people should they wish to exercise their theoretical authority over the failing government agency
- the ability to enforce its monopolies, either through law or bribes (e.g., "free" education)
- limitless taxation; when money runs low, taxes can always be increased

Other than fear of the people (which no longer exists thanks to the police state), there is no motivation for government to surrender power it wields. Therefore, there will not be a [worldly] solution to these problems--ever.

The problem I see is that so much money is wasted on both. There are no prisons in the Pentateuch, and the ones that are mentioned elsewhere have no basis in the law for existence. Criminals are not to be incarcerated, they either make restitution and are forgiven, or they end up at the bottom of a pile of stones.

Parents are personally responsible for seeing to the education of their children. There are no public schools mentioned in the Bible. I'm not Amish, but the more I see of their lifestyle, the better I like it.