5.18 Improving Chicago’s schools. The National Science Foundation (NSF) paid for “systemic initiatives” to help cities reform their public education systems in ways that should help students learn better. Does this program work? The initiative in Chicago focused on improving the teaching of mathematics in high schools. The average scores of students on a standard test of math skills were higher after two years of the program in 51 out of 60 high schools in the city. Leaders of NSF said this was evidence that the Chicago program was succeeding. Critics said this doesn’t say anything about the effect of the systemic initiative. Are these critics correct? Explain.