School Funding Adapted from Dr. Ukpolo

School Funding l Have you ever wondered why some school districts have computer labs, lots of books, and tons of equipment, while other districts have nothing?

Well, think about this. l What Does The Environment Around Your School Look Like?

When you step outside the front door of your school, which of the below scenes do you see: l An environment with: –Trees –Parks –Large homes l An environment with: –Liquor stores –Gangs –Smaller homes –Project homes

What you see when you step out the front door of school explains why some schools have money and others do not. l You see, the bulk of what you see outside, can determine what your school has on the inside.

Funding Fact l Many believe that schools get the bulk of their money from the Federal Government. l Wrong.

Breakdown of funds?

Schools receive federal money in the following ways. l Grants l Title I l Title IX

State Funding Comes from: l Sales Tax l Income Tax l License Fees l Wheel Tax l Some states have a lottery

Local Share Property Tax Bond Issues Fund Raisers

So we get 46% of our money from our local community, which means l If you work in a district that has a high poverty rate, unemployment rate, or even lots of apartments or projects, your students are only getting a smaller percent of money from the local community compared to students who live in communities with large homes, fewer apartment complexes and little to no projects.

Fund Raisers l These students also make tons of money on fund raisers. They live in a community in which people can afford to buy candy and cookies. Where as the poorer students can only sell a few items. l My own kids had a fund raiser last month. The school made $30,000. That is not a typo.

You may be asking yourself why the federal government doesn’t step in? l Remember, education was never mentioned in the Constitution. The reason being is that the only people who were allowed to go to school at that time were rich white males. The authors of the Constitution never thought women, the poor and especially minorities would ever go to school.

Once America realized everyone had the right to A free and public education, they created an amendment.

Education: A Function Of The States. Came about because of the 10 th Amendment. l In 1788 the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The framers gave the power to establish schools and license teachers to the individual states rather than the Federal Government.

Which Means: l The Federal Government cannot tell states how to run their schools. l Each state can do what ever they want with regards to education.

Teacher Education l It also means individual states can determine what classes they want pre-service teachers to take in order to be certified to teach. l The state tells CSULA what classes you need. We only provide the service. We are not the ones adding classes to your degree. l And, just because you receive your credentials from California, does not mean you can teach in another state. You must follow the guidelines for teaching in that state. Which means you may have to go back to school to pick up that states required classes.

There are additional amendments that affect education as well.

Legal Aspects (Influences): U.S. Constitution l Amendments : l 10 th : “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the states. l 1 st : Freedom of Speech, of religion, and the press. l 14 th : Protects specific privileges of citizens (Due Process.)

We have discussed the 10 th Let’s talk about the 1 st.

Religion l This is the bases for separation of Church and State. l You cannot discuss religion. Who’s religion would you talk about. You would have to give credit to every religion that is out there. Remember the Snickers commercial “Not going anywhere”. The school would have to say a prayer for every denominations. l You are a teacher, not a preacher.

14 th Due Process l You have to give students the right to defend themselves. l Even if you know that stole something, don’t go searching their book bags. They have the right to explain the situation. l If something is missing, send them to the principal’s office. That is why principals make $120,000 and you make $40,000. That is not a typo.

School Funding? l Based on ADA (Average daily attendance) the number of students who attend school will determine how much money the school receives. That’s why it’s important you take attendence. –This number is usually calculated after the first days of school. –Represents the student-expenditures ratio.

Expenditures per pupil, how much we spend per child. Remember, this money is used for electricity, desk, bus drivers and others that work at and for the school.

Expenditures By Countries

Now you know l It will be extremely difficult for poorer districts to get the same supplies and materials as even a middle class school. l Schools depend so much on the community to supplement school supplies. If you work in a poorer district, there is no way you will have all the perks as teachers who work in more wealthy districts.

Your responsibility as a teacher l When you hear teachers around you complain about not having what other school districts have, explain this lesson to them. l We know it’s not right, but it’s just the way it is. l Try and write grants to help your school out.