Providing education to all citizens of the United States is a constitutional right. However, we can see that throughout the history of American education, many people have not or have not been able to receive the same level of education as others. Inequalities and injustices towards certain cultural subgroups are just as evident today as they were when Horace Mann established common schools in an attempt to resolve the cultural diversity of the time. Ideas about diversity and equity have changed the ideology of schools based on national school reform that has transformed schools into the contemporary schools of today. However, modern schools face many challenges; to name a few, lack of funding, institutionalized bias, and failure of curriculum differentiation due to standardized testing. In February 2010, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) reported their surprisingly large budget deficit that will affect the 2010/2011 school year. Decreased state funding, increased wage and benefit costs, and increased operating costs for Chicago Public Schools leave a deficit of $700 to $900 million. This funding shortfall will have drastic effects on teachers, including teacher and staff layoffs, school closures, and loss of teacher benefits. More importantly, the effects of budget issues hit our students hard, increasing inequities especially in poor, urban schools. These children have nothing to do with the mismanagement of funds for their fundamental right to an equal, high-achieving education. There are a growing number of dilapidated school buildings, a growing number of charter schools, and a loss of after-school programs such as music and sports activities, minimal school supplies, no transportation... middle of paper... The Future of American public education looks bleak. A change in the allocation of money towards appropriate insights and programs is a necessity for growth and a well-rounded education system. This will allow all students, regardless of location, to receive the same tools and resources to achieve high learning success. Inherent assumptions and discrimination against poor, minority, and special education students must be eliminated to create an equitable and democratic school society that will enrich and prepare these students to become thriving adult members of the community. Reform should include high standards on the part of administration and teachers, not just on the part of students. Most importantly, reform should include giving students, teachers and families a voice in how we teach students.