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The Crisis in Funding for Public Education

The Crisis in Funding for Public Education. A Washington State PTA Presentation March 30, 2007. Your child’s opportunities are limited because the state does not fully fund basic education. PTA’s Main Message. Overview. Underfunding basic education affects all children.

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The Crisis in Funding for Public Education

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  1. The Crisis in Funding for Public Education A Washington State PTA Presentation March 30, 2007

  2. Your child’s opportunities are limited becausethe state does not fully fund basic education. PTA’s Main Message

  3. Overview • Underfunding basic education affects all children. • We have a legal right to a fully-funded basic education. • Some districts are worse off than others. • What does it take to fund successful schools? • What can you do about the crisis?

  4. 1. Underfunding Basic Education Affects All Children Wanna buy a candy bar for my school?

  5. Based on OSPI data for General Fund revenues.

  6. Source: OSPI School Finance Data for the 2004-05 School Year

  7. Washington State’s Per-Pupil Funding is Low by Any Measure Washington State’s per-pupil funding has lagged behind the national average at least since 1995. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, Digest of Education Statistics 2005, Table 167.

  8. Washington State’s Per-Pupil Funding is Low by Any Measure The State’s per-pupil funding has not kept up with inflation since 1992. Source: OSPI’s Five Year Strategic Plan 2002-07

  9. Washington State’s Per-Pupil Funding is Low by Any Measure Three different expert studies on the cost of a quality education all say the state’s per-pupil funding is less than what’s needed. Expert Source: See the notes for this slide.

  10. Washington State’s Per-Pupil Funding is Low by Any Measure In the Seattle area, most private high schools’ tuition is greater than the state’s per-pupil funding of $7,876. Private High School Tuition in School Year 2005-06 Source: The Seattle Times School Guide (2006) OSPI per-pupil funding for 2004-05.

  11. As Revenues Have Declined, Costs Have Increased More Students with Greater Needs Source: OSPI

  12. Certain Federal and State Laws Require that All Children Must Meet State Academic Standards • The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated that 100% of all students must meet academic standards by 2014, and make adequate yearly progress in doing so. • Beginning with the class of 2008, state law requires all graduates to pass the 10th grade WASL.

  13. Districts Have Made Great Strides, Especially in Reading

  14. But The Hard Yardage is Ahead

  15. Districts Struggle To Prepare Students for Postsecondary Education and Careers

  16. Many Public High Schools Have Low Rankings in UW Admit Decisions

  17. Our Children’s Opportunities and Financial Security Are at Stake Source: U.S. Census 2004. Cited by Edfund. Learn and Earn Chart 2005

  18. 2. We Have a Legal Right to A Fully-Funded Basic Education

  19. The State Constitution “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders…” • State Courts • Judicial decisions in 1978 and 1983 have held that: • The State must define and fully fund basic education. • Excess levies can not be required to fund any partof basic education. • The Legislature is required to continually review, evaluate, and revise basic education funding formulas as the education system evolves and changes.

  20. The State Legislature • The Basic Education Act of 1978 originally defined basic education and developed the staff-per-student ratios used in funding formulas. • The Education Reform Act of 1993 significantly changed the definition of basic education and for the first time established high academic standards for all students.

  21. But The Legislature has not revised the funding formulas for basic education since 1978! • Think how much educational needs have changed regarding: • Computers, classroom technology and internet access. • Counselors, nurses and social workers • Specialists in reading and math • ELL teachers, audiologists and other professional therapists • Highly trained teachers for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs

  22. 3. Some Districts Are Worse Off Than Others

  23. Seventeen Districts Have Very Low Per-Pupil Funding

  24. Rank of the 65 Districts* that Were Below the Average Per-Pupil Funding

  25. Why Are Some Districts So Low Funded Compared to Others? Salary Inequities Source: LEAP Document 12E Salary Allocations for the 2006-07 School Year http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/leapdocs/k12docs.asp

  26. Washington State Under Funds The Actual Cost of Student Needs Research: Programs for students in poverty cost at least twice as much as regular education. Washington State: Programs for students in poverty only provide an additional 7% to 17%.

  27. Some Districts Have Very High Poverty RatesSchool Year 2005-06

  28. “In considering budget cuts, districts try to protect instructional programs by initially targeting administrative and support services, particularly maintenance. However, if these programs have already been the subject of cuts in previous years and are already at low levels, it may become necessary to reduce expenditures for instructional programs as well.”1 Limited revenues and increasing costs have forced some districts to make hard decisions: Follow the trail of likely budget cuts

  29. Classified Staff Custodians Office Staff Maintenance Workers Security Guards Bus Drivers

  30. Enrichment Programs Arts Sports Band Music Programs

  31. Certificated Support Staff Nurses Librarians Instructional Coaches Counselors

  32. Instructional Supplies and Equipment Lab Equipment Computers Paper Classroom Technology Textbooks and Student Materials

  33. Specialized or Advanced Courses Advanced Placement Foreign Language Career and Technical Education

  34. Certificated Teaching Staff ELL Teachers Core Classroom Teachers Tutors Math and Science Teachers Special Ed Teachers

  35. 4. What does it take to fund successful schools? • More funding for best practices based on research and actual cost data. • Funding should be for basic education programs.

  36. Washington State Needs to Fund MORE Staff! Source: OSPI for current staffing. Picus et al for recommended staffing. See notes.

  37. The State Needs to Increase Funding for Instructional and Facility-Related Costs! Nonemployee-Related Costs (NERC) include instructional costs for textbooks and computers and facility costs for electricity, heating, and water/sewage.

  38. Fund Basic Education First! Basic Education Programs Currently six programs fall within the legislative definition of basic education, and therefore must be funded by the state: 1. General apportionment; 2. Special education for students with disabilities; 3. Some pupil transportation; 4. Learning Assistance Program; 5. Transitional Bilingual Education; 6. Educational programs in juvenile detention centers and state institutions.

  39. Districts Pay a Price for Inadequate Basic Ed Funding • Classified Staff include attorneys, personnel and finance specialists, secretaries, clerks, maintenance, security, and food service workers, technicians, instructional assistants, custodians, and bus drivers.

  40. 5. What Can You Do About The Crisis?

  41. The Governor’s Washington Learns Committee Proposals on Basic Education • By December 2008, the Washington Learns Steering Committee will • Issuerecommendations for a revised K-12 funding model that will • Meet the Constitutional requirement of providing a basic education to all our students, and • Be clear and transparent for taxpayers. • Work to develop a ten-year implementation strategy for stable and significantly increased funding to support a world-class, learner-focused, seamless education system for Washington.

  42. Legislative Proposals that Address Basic Education Funding • Bills That Propose Studies That Would Revise Basic Education Formulas: • HB 1661 Calls for a detailed study of the cost of basic education under four scenarios that vary teacher salary and class size. FR – Nov. 2008 • SB 5627 Calls for a technical group to develop a new funding structure that aligns with the final report of the Washington Learns steering committee and the basic education provisions in current law. FR – Jan. 2008 • Bills That Call for Equalization of Salary Allocations to • Districts Over a Six-Year Period • SB 5135 and HB 1540 • Bills That Call for New Transportation Funding Formulas • SB 5114 and HB 1165

  43. Join the Legislative Action Alert Listserve • Go to www.wastatepta.org; Click on Legislation • Write or email your legislative representatives • Go to www.leg.wa.gov; Click on “Find Your Legislator” • Invite an Ed Funding PTA speaker to your next PTA meeting • Present PTA’s Ed Funding power point yourself • Contact RLC Christine Enslein at www.chrisensl@hotmail.com

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