Doesn't that always seem to be the solution to poorly performing schools? Throw more money at them. And how often does that solve the problem?
I remember visiting my then fiance in Russia. She was a teacher of Russian grammar, a must do well subject if you were to go on to university. Spent a day in her class room. Reminded me of when I went to school in the 60's, but not even that fancy. Very little money spent at that school, but the teachers were tough and demanding AND respected by the students.
I often tell the story of me visiting her class room where she was teaching "middle school" students. She was giving a written dictation exam. Although it was all in Russian I was observing from the back of the room. As she dictated and the students were writing, she was walking up and down the isles looking over students shoulders to see how they were doing. I noticed she stopped at one student and repeated the dictation with emphasis to this one student who was obviously having difficulty. He didn't get it so she took her notes and rolled them up and wacked him over the head with all her might. WOW. That got my attention and I gasped. I told her after that if she had done that in the US she would lose her job and might have gone to jail. She laughed and told me that was nothing. She said when they act up in class she sticks them in the closet for the entire class period.
Seems that she must consider me as one of her students...