School Organization and Finance EDN200

Today’s Plan Small group work – discuss school funding articles School Organization and Finance –KEY QUESTIONS Funding Activity Review Research Presentation Research Presentation Sign-Up

Small Group Work 1.Quick summary of the article 2.Your insight or takeaway from the piece 3.Why should we care?

5 Major Questions Who do teachers work for? Where do schools get their money? Is school funding equal? What are the effects of unequal funding? Where does the money go?

Question #1 Who do teachers work for?

Students & Parents Teachers

Students & Parents Teachers School Principal Superintendent Assistant Superintendents

Students & Parents Teachers School Principal Superintendent Assistant Superintendents School Board elected/appointed State Department of Education

Students & Parents Teachers School Principal Superintendent Assistant Superintendents School Board elected/appointed State Department of Education State Superintendent/Chief State School Officer State Board of Education Governor/Legislature/Courts

Question #2 Where do schools get their money?

Dollars Spent On Public Education in the U.S. (2002/2003) $440 billion total Primarily Property Taxes Sales and Income Taxes, Lottery, other

Federal Spending $586.1 billion (+7.0%) - Social SecuritySocial Security $466.0 billion (+4.0%) - DefenseDefense $394.5 billion (+12.4%) - MedicareMedicare $367.0 billion (+2.0%) - Unemployment and welfare $276.4 billion (+2.9%) - Medicaid and other health relatedMedicaid $243.7 billion (+13.4%) - Interest on debt $89.9 billion (+1.3%) - Education and training $76.9 billion (+8.1%) - Transportation $72.6 billion (+5.8%) - Veterans' benefits $43.5 billion (+9.2%) - Administration of justiceAdministration of justice $33.1 billion (+5.7%) - Natural resources and environment $32.5 billion (-15.4%) - Foreign affairs $27.0 billion (+3.7%) - Agriculture $26.8 billion (+28.7%) - Community and regional development $25.0 billion (+4.0%) - Science and technology $20.1 billion (+11.4%) - General government $1.1 billion (-47.6%) - EnergyEnergy

Question #3 Is school funding equal?

Not equal across states NC per pupil funding is 39 th out of 50 U.S. States National School Boards Association, 2005

It continues to rise

Not equal within NC Hyde County - $14,975 Source, NCPS Statistical Profile Davidson County - $6,139 A difference of $8,836

Question #4 What are the effects of unequal funding?

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy High Profile Indicator of School Success - Test Scores –High Test Scores Drive Up Property Values –High Property Values Increase Tax Base –Increased Tax Base Yields Greater Per Pupil Expenditures More enrichment programs, greater resources, smaller classes, more personnel, more subjects, more counselors, more fieldtrips, more, more, more –More of Everything Leads to Increased Test Scores –Repeat the Cycle

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy - In Reverse Low Performing Districts Serving Larger Numbers of Students Below State Averages Property Values Decline or Don’t Keep Pace with Neighboring Districts (Tax Rate Increases) Tax Base Doesn’t Keep Up with District Costs –Increased salaries, health care, testing, etc. –Per pupil expenditures reduced Reduced funding leads to fewer extracurricular activities, less resources Less of everything has negative impact on test scores and/or change in instructional focus Repeat the Cycle - Less Money for those kids most in need

Question #5 Where does the money go?

An Example New Hanover Public Schools 65% salaries 15% benefits 10% supplies/materials 10% services.1% equipment

Why is money an ineffective way to measure district commitment to schools? % of students with special needs (receiving support services) varies widely School maintenance/construction costs vary (location, age of buildings) Personnel experience varies widely (Teacher Salaries 28K – 66K in NC) Central Office/Administrative Staff vary across districts Class Size/Building Capacity Issues

ANY QUESTIONS?

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