1. No Time to Lose The Imperatives to Educate A New Majority: Low Income Students in Georgia “One by one their seats were emptied…Here the circle has been broken…” - Will the Circle Be Unbroken © SEF 2015

2. www.SouthernEducation.org 2 The Population of Schools Has Changed… Low Income Students Are Nation’s New Majority

3. The World Has Changed School’s Importance www.SouthernEducation.org Source: US Census A Steady Economic Decline Without Higher Education Degree… $.35 $.29

4. www.SouthernEducation.org4 Source: Tom Mortenson, Pell Institute BA Graduation Rates Shape Outcomes in Life

5. www.SouthernEducation.org5 Rate of BA Degrees for Students in Bottom Quartile of Income Fairness Becomes a Big National Imperative As a New Majority Emerges in South and the Nation Source: US Census; Tom Mortenson, Pell Institute

6. www.SouthernEducation.org6 The Population of Schools Has Changed… Low Income Students Are Nation’s New Majority Source: National Center for Education Statistics

7. www.SouthernEducation.org 7 Educational Inequality Effects the Whole Nation SOURCE: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

8. www.SouthernEducation.org 8 USA – 50 to 74.9 percent Low Income Schools SOURCE: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Educational Inequality Effects the Whole Nation

9. www.SouthernEducation.org9 The Challenges of Equal Education Persist… Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress

10. www.SouthernEducation.org10 Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress Challenge Involves Income, Race, Ethnicity

11. www.SouthernEducation.org 11 In Georgia the Nation’s Future is Now… Low Income Level Approaching 2 of Every 3 Students Source: Georgia Department of Education Statewide = 62.2 Percent

12. www.SouthernEducation.org 12 Students Performance in Georgia Follows Income… Students and Schools with the Largest Needs Source: Georgia Department of Education CCRPI Score

13. www.SouthernEducation.org 13 Latest Test Scores Across Georgia Reflect Trends In Students’ Family Income Source: Georgia Department of Education State Average Score = 75.8

14. www.SouthernEducation.org 14 How Did We Get Here? Large Majority of Low Income Students Source: Georgia Department of Education Statewide = 62.2 Percent

15. www.SouthernEducation.org15 Source: National Center for Education Statistics / Georgia Department of Education Trend Has Been Coming Over the Last Two Decades … Low Income Growth More than Doubled in 20 Years

16. www.SouthernEducation.org16 Source: National Center for Education Statistics Response of State Leaders to Trends… Primary Policies in Public education in Georgia Primary State-Mandated Education Changes in Georgia: 1995-2015 Higher Standards for Learning (Common Core, etc.) Increased Accountability : Increased Standardized Student Testing Adoption of Teacher Evaluation Using Standardized Student Testing School and District Ratings and Rankings by Standardized Test Scores Increased Choice: Career / College Academies Charter Schools Private Schools with Public Funding Education Study Commission on School Funding…

17. www.SouthernEducation.org17 Source: Georgia Department of Education Georgia Charter Schools Appear to Score No Better Even with Fewer Low Income Students

18. Tax Credit Scholarships for Private Schools as “Reform” $341 million in state tax funds diverted to private schools since 2008 Administered by private, self-appointed organizations and private schools Complete lack of financial and educational accountability No reporting on how money is spent, who gets scholarships, if students improve learning Program racked with scams and illegal contributions Tens of millions of dollars in state revenue illegally designated for specific students Private Schools Get “Choice” of Students on Schools’ Terms with Public Funds In the Name of Helping Low Income Students… ‘Black Hole’ State Program Finances Private Schools Students Ineligible for Scholarships Due to Schools’ Standards on Religion, Income, Grades, Sexual Identity, etc.

19. www.SouthernEducation.org19 Source: National Center for Education Statistics Georgia’s Private Schools Lack Students of Color Schools with 10 Percent or Less African American, Hispanic, and Native American Students

20. www.SouthernEducation.org 20 Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress Public Funding of Private Schools Is No Answer for Increasing Low Income Students’ Performance Gaps in Math Scores Between Low Income and Higher Income Students

21. www.SouthernEducation.org21 Make No Mistake: Score Gaps Wide or Wider in Private Schools Public Funding of Private Schools Is No Answer for Increasing Low Income Students’ Performance

22. www.SouthernEducation.org22 Source: National Center for Education Statistics State Share of Georgia Public Education Funding Declines As Low Income Students Increase

23. www.SouthernEducation.org23 Source: National Center for Education Statistics State Share of Georgia Public Education Funding Declines Below National Average

24. www.SouthernEducation.org24 Source: National Center for Education Statistics State Per Pupil Allocations for Georgia Public Education Funding Declines Below National Average

25. www.SouthernEducation.org 25 Source: Georgia Department of Education State De-Funds the State’s Own Formula for “Quality Basic Education” in Georgia * FY2016 Estimated Total Cuts = -$7,984,210,381

26. www.SouthernEducation.org 26 Here is How It Has Happened … Source: Georgia Department of Education

27. www.SouthernEducation.org 27 Source: Georgia Department of Education State De-Funds the State’s Own Formula for “Quality Basic Education” in Georgia * FY2016 Estimated Total Cuts = -$7,984,210,381 56 Percent of the Cuts - $4.6 Billion - Since FY 2012

28. www.SouthernEducation.org 28 State Response to De-Funding QBE Commission to Study Changing QBE

29. www.SouthernEducation.org Options Being Considered Options to Change How to Distribute Reduced QBE – Not How To Increase QBE Funds

30. www.SouthernEducation.org 30 This is the Reality of Georgia Public Education… Source: Georgia Department of Education Statewide = 62.2 Percent

31. www.SouthernEducation.org 31 This is the Reality of Georgia Public Education… Source: Georgia Department of Education

32. www.SouthernEducation.org32 No Time To Lose… What Are You Going To Do About It? “The provision of an adequate public education for the citizens shall be a primary obligation of the State of Georgia.” --- Georgia Constitution

33. www.SouthernEducation.org33 A Prosperous State Must Have Schools that Prepare Each Child for a Good Life High Quality Education for All Children: Issues of Basic Fairness & State Prosperity “ In the joyous days of childhood… Oft they told of wondrous love… Will the circle be unbroken By and by, by and by?

34. Steve Suitts, Senior Fellow, Southern Education Foundation SSuitts@southerneducation.org