[socialist_coder]

I think the 1 easiest way to improve schools right now would be to differentiate kids by ability.

Right now, teachers have a handful of kids 1-2 grades above their peers, a handful of kids who are 1-2 grades below their peers, some ESL kids, some kids with behavioral problems who cause classroom disruptions, and then majority average students.

So, teachers have to figure out how to teach to all of those different groups. It's a recipe for disaster and none of the groups are being well served.

If an elementary/middle school typically has 3-4 classes per grade, why not differentiate and split those up so each class has a more homogeneous mix of students?

Now each teacher is designing curriculum specifically for their group of students and can teach to the class as a whole.

I realize there would be a lot of implications here, like the differentiation would naturally have a racial/demographic split. But why is that so bad? Each class would still be getting better educated than mixing everything up as it is done now.