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

SuperintendentAssistant

Superintendents

Students & Parents

Teachers

School Principal

SuperintendentAssistant Superintendents

School Boardelected/appointed

State Department of Education

Students & Parents

Teachers

School Principal

SuperintendentAssistant Superintendents

School Boardelected/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

State57%

Local34%

Federal9%

Primarily Property Taxes

Sales and Income

Taxes, Lottery, other

Federal Spending• $586.1 billion (+7.0%) - Social Security • $466.0 billion (+4.0%) - Defense • $394.5 billion (+12.4%) - Medicare • $367.0 billion (+2.0%) - Unemployment and welfare • $276.4 billion (+2.9%) - Medicaid and other health related • $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 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%) - Energy

Question #3

• Is school funding equal?

Not equal across states

$8,554

12,100

5,090

6,800

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

U.S.Average

NewYork

Utah NorthCarolina

NC per pupil funding is 39th 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

Salaries

Benefits

Supp/Materials

Services

Equipment

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?

Research Presentation

• Review Presentation Rubric

Sign Up For Presentations