States have a lot of control over education funding, which is far more determinative of the quality of their education systems than the guidelines the federal government imposes. Every state has to deal with the same federal guidelines, but some have far better education systems than others -- due to funding.

Want to see education improved? Have the Feds take over funding, and give each school the same amount of money. The quality of schools in poor neighborhoods would increase dramatically, and the quality of schools in rich neighborhoods would decrease. Maybe then, the rich would be convinced to support increased educational funding.

In other countries, people don't think about the quality of the local school district when they buy a home, because the districts are all similar in quality. Again, a matter of funding.