why is it that Jay Matthews, the New York Times, the Education Empowerment Project, the US DoE and so many others so willing to promote a myth?
Because it is easier… because if we could only believe that we could solve all the problems of educating students in poverty with charismatic school leaders and hard working teachers… and that all the kids who don't get the education they need are simply being underserved by those lazy teachers… that would absolve our society…. We could point to those schools that succeed against all odds and say, "See… if they do it, every school should be able to do it." It is a myth that keeps us from really understanding what is necessary to solve the problems for the children of our cities. It is the myth of the schools that have solved the problems.
Except those schools haven't. Not completely. Not for every student. In the end, those schools — like all our schools — struggle and fail to reach every kid.
Just ask the other thirteen.
Source: here