The Cristo Rey network of schools (featured in our Catholic schools report) may benefit from a Congressional earmark if the current Senate appropriations bill goes through, reports the Des Moines Register. This is hardly the first school reform group to benefit from pork-barrel spending; Teach For America, for example, has been hitting the earmark jackpot for years. Which brings to mind the age-old question: does the end justify the means? If John McCain becomes president this question may become moot; he promises to eliminate all earmarks, regardless of their worth.

Photo by Flickr user beeldenzeggenmeer.