3 Demand Fair Funding
so that every child receives a quality education through fair and equitable distribution of resources.
Imagine > But Currently > What must be done > What we can do together
Imagine
Imagine schools…
- Where fair funding is a given and is seen as the inalienable right of every child.
- Where every school regardless of location or student population has excellent resources, facilities and programs to provide the highest level of education possible for its students.
- Where assignment of funds and other resources for equity and excellence in public schools are distributed in an appropriate manner to enable all diverse learners to achieve high academic standards.
- Appropriating all the necessary resources and commitment to ensure that every student excels and is supported at every juncture of the educational pipeline.
- That reflect state and local policies that promote equity and excellence through fair funding.
Imagine communities…
- Where fair funding is viewed by the state, citizens and communities as the priority for our future.
- Where an investment in public education is aligned with the recognition that schools are central to democracy and that schools belong to community.
Imagine states…
- Where excellence is not a benefit of the rich but a right of everyone. Where leaders and decision-making bodies in educational policy reflect the diversity of the people they serve.
But Currently…
Great disparity exists among school districts across the nation to the detriment of children and communities. The disparities that occur take many forms, including inequity in the qualification of staff, the quality of facilities, range in depth of course offerings, and quality of materials and technological supports for learning. The poorest districts, often with minority and poor children, are suffering the most. Huge disparities in per pupil expenditures range into the thousands of dollars. Minority and majority communities have not come together to address funding inequities. School funding has not been viewed as an investment in the health and prosperity of the whole community and has not received the attention it deserves.
Fair funding of schools as an issue is not just a matter for poor and minority communities, it is linked to the overall health of all communities and of the nation. School finance has divided communities across race and economics, resulting in minority communities fighting one another for inadequate and dwindling resources. What is needed is the entire community fighting together so that all children have appropriate resources to support excellence in achievement.
What must be done…
Fair funding must be ensured for all schools across the nation. There must be a groundswell of local and state action to secure funding for public schools that is not tied to property tax wealth. Priorities for funding education must be established from the national level throughout states and local governments to ensure that all children have access to the highest quality resources and support to prepare them for college and life. Funds must be in place to secure education at the highest level for every student. Funding systems must be reviewed from preschool through graduate education. It is not acceptable that qualified, prepared youth cannot enter or complete college in this country due to lack of financial support. Education is a matter of national security, important to our standing as a global leader.
What we can do together…
- Accept that fair funding is the responsibility of every group in a community.
- De-mystify the complexities of school finance so that every member of the community fully understands the issues and decisions to be made.
- Seek information and get involved in discussions around funding and inquire about how your schools are funded in comparison to others locally and in the state.
- Encourage legislators to support appropriate measures to support fair funding at the state and local levels.
- Be pro-active in monitoring and correcting the inadequacies that arise as a result of funding inequities.
- Look at your schools and find out how monies are being spent.
- Advocate for appropriate resources for all youth.
- Insist on comparability in resource allocations for staffing, facilities, curriculum and materials.