Falling student performance fuels school funding debate

Holly Koon struggles every day in her 9th-grade biology classes to help students achieve, but sometimes it seems like a losing battle. Chronic absenteeism, growing class sizes and fewer classroom helpers all get in the way of student learning, she said.

"All students can absolutely learn, and they can learn to standard," she said. "I have a biology class right now with 36 students in it; I have on...