The issue for public schools, the Post Office, and other government-mandated monopolies is that they are not incentivized to be innovative and save costs, and don't run as a business should.  For example, when you say "fully funded," what does that mean?  ASD says "our programs will cost x," and we respond "Ok, here you go?"  Superintendents, like Post Masters, are not given the power to hire and promote good performers, while firing bad performers, and the ASD does not educate the public about what their goals are.  "Graduation" is not a goal.  They should instead be stating the following: "When a student is in ASD, they will be provided the following services."  and, "If (not when) a student graduates, they will be equipped to do the following...."  If they stated and listed those goals more clearly and openly, I think the public might find many programs to be unnecessary, and would force ASD to actually practice the innovations it says it engenders.