Many booarding schools have found it difficult to consistently maintain full enrollments. Mercersburg was founded as a boys' school in 1893; it added girls in 1969 to counter a shrinking male applicant pool.

While private schools may receive no direct funding from government, they do receive significant indirect support from Washington and from their states and municipalities in the form of tax loopholes, deductions, and exemptions - tax expenditures in the nomenclature of the IRS.

When schools and communities focus resources and efforts on closing the opportunity gaps, they should be recognized, supported and applauded. They should also serve as models for those who wish to engage in true school improvement.

Gender imbalance is detrimental not only to women -- but also to companies. The business case for gender equity has never been stronger, with numerous studies demonstrating that diverse teams result in better decision-making and stronger financial results.

I doubt that Putnam fully realizes how appreciative teachers are of his efforts to shift our toxic education debates to a conversation about the real problem, the opportunity gap. To close the racial and economic achievement gaps, we must regain the confidence required to tackle out-of-school issues as well as in-school issues.