While people of diverse perspectives have offered reform plans and solutions, a prevailing argument is that the schools lack sufficient resources to support academic success, and a variety of parties have sued states to compel them to provide greater funding for education. A key question in those lawsuits-"What will it cost to improve student achievement?"-has led courts and legislatures to seek out a scientific determination of the amount of spending required by schools. And there has been no shortage of consultants offering to provide one.