Month: January 2015

Public Education’s Poor Majority

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A recent study by the Southern Education Foundation  suggests a hard reality for American public schools. According to a U.S. Department of Education survey of Free And Reduced lunch statistics, more than half of American public school students now live below the poverty line. This troubling reality is more significant in Texas, who ranks 6th in the nation in student poverty, with 60% of Texas kids coming from impoverished households.

Percentage of Low Income Students by state 2013

The study also suggests that American’s must reconsider previously held beliefs about the geographic reality of poverty. No longer can suburban school districts pretend to ignore this issue. The misconception that poor students are solely the responsibility of rural and inner-city schools is simply not true. According to Steve Suitts, the Foundation’s Vice president, “Even in the suburbs, low-income students are now 40% of the student population in the public schools…It’s everyone’s problem.”

Without improving the educational support that the nation provides its low income students – students with the largest needs and usually with the least support — the trends of the last decade will be prologue for a nation not at risk, but a nation in decline

“A New Majority: Low Income Students in the South and Nation. The Southern Education Foundation (2013)

This is an important statistic for educators to consider, as low-income students often require a more expensive education than their wealthier peers. Schools who service impoverished learners must account for the obvious gaps in resources. However, we must also consider the needs of kids who will not benefit of after school enrichment, summer camps, and families with the time and resources to help students grow at home. Most families want for their kids to learn and grow, but many do not have the time or money to give that desire a backbone. This is where schools have to pick up the baton.

As the Texas Legislature considers important school funding bills for the next biennium, it is imperative that they take into account the needs our State’s kids. Educators will need greater resources to provide for the new majority in Texas public schools. “Doing more with less” is simply not an option. The “more” these kids need is far too great to ignore and de-fund. If Texas lawmakers believe that our children are, in fact, an important resource for our State’s future, they simply must put their money where their mouth is.

Additionally, schools need flexibility with this funding to provide kids with services that might not have traditionally been within the scope of public education. Innovate teachers across the state will take the initiative to give all Texas kids what they need, but they need the time and money to make it happen. They also need the flexibility to do what’s best for their students and their community. School funding structures need to allow for this flexibility so campuses can make the important decisions they need to create school days that best serve the growing population of learner/breadwinners that go to school and support their families.

This issue is not just a political issue, it is a central economic reality for our State and our Nation. The strength of our National economy is dependent on the next generation of learners. The Foundation’s report says it best. “No longer can we consider the problems and needs of low income students simply a matter of fairness…Their success or failure in the public schools will determine the entire body of human capital and educational potential that the nation will possess in the future. Without improving the educational support that the nation provides its low income students – students with the largest needs and usually with the least support — the trends of the last decade will be prologue for a nation not at risk, but a
nation in decline”

No longer can we consider the problems and needs of low income students simply a matter of fairness…Their success or failure in the public schools will determine the entire body of human capital and educational potential that the nation will possess in the future.

“A New Majority: Low Income Students in the South and Nation. The Southern Education Foundation (2013)

Just a thought

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Some days are a stark reminder that many of our Nation’s children come to school burdened by much more than school books and homework. Today was one of those days.

We owe our children everything, America.

Everything.

We owe them the chance to use their education to lessen the burden of poverty. We owe them the chance to become inspired to greatness. We owe them every ounce of today we have to give, and then a double-share more.

They will repay us with their remarkable spirit. Their recompense will be the hope they give us for tomorrow.

Give them all you’ve got. For their burden is great, but their spirit greater. And our every ounce of help may be just what these remarkable spirits need.

We’re in the money?

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Money for Kids

The opening bell rang on the 84th Texas State Legislature today. Amid some leadership elections, oath swearing, and box unpacking, the State Comptroller made a report on the Biennial Revenue estimate. That number, and it’s a big one, is the amount the Legislature uses to guide the direction of our State for the next two years.

And there’s good news!

For 2014-2015, the state can expect to have $101.4 billion in funds available for general-purpose spending. This represents a 12.4% increase from the corresponding amount of funds available for 2012-2013. * (italics added)

You heard it, Texas. 12.4% more money!!!! I’m not going to ask where the money came from, since I don’t really see much economic growth in the part of Texas where I spend my days. I’m just glad it came from somewhere.

But wait…there’s more.

In addition to the General Revenue-related funds, the state stands to collect $112 billion in federal receipts and other revenues dedicated for specific purposes…Revenue collections from all sources and for all purposes should total $208.2 billion.*

*Excerpted from the Transmittal Letter of the Texas Comptroller’s Office

Here’s the question I want answered: How are we going to spend it?

It is OUR money after all. We entrusted it with the good people in Austin when we elected them (either by voting or by not voting) into office this past year. They have from today until May to spend it. Many members of the legislature want to put it into savings. Seeing as how that money isn’t going into my savings account, I’d rather they use it to write some checks.

And here’s the first one I want you to sign…

Start Paying for Texas Schools 

Here are some more numbers for you.

According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office and The National Education Agency:

  • Enrollment in Texas Public Schools is up 9% since 2009.
  • Enrollment gains in Texas are the greatest percentage gain in the Nation
  • Texas schools educate 750,000 more students than we did in 2003

The most notable fact about these enrollment statistics is that the increase seems to be entirely made up of economically disadvantaged kids.

The number of economically disadvantaged students in Texas public schools is up 776,840 since 2003. That means that, of all the new students Texas Schools have been charged with teaching in the last decade, 105% of them live in low-income households. All of the increased enrollment our state has seen represents a population of children who’s families have the fewest resources to provide for their futures.

And what have those good people we put into office done to support Texas’ future?

The Texas State legislature has decreased district expenditures every year since 2009. Over the last 5 years, the State has cut education funding by nearly 5%. In fact, Texas ranks 45th in the Nation in per student expenditures. As a result, Texas schools find themselves teaching more kids, and more disadvantaged kids, with less money than ever.

Texas ranks 45th in the Nation in per student expenditures

So get out your checkbook, Texas. It’s time for us to put our money where our mouth is. In the recent election, our State’s children were at the forefront of the debate. In order for Texas to continue to succeed, we need a workforce of well-educated Texans. We need better schools and better access to technology. We need fewer students in each class, which means we need more teachers. We need to encourage our Nation’s best and brightest to enter the noblest profession by paying teachers a wage deserving of their hard work. The average teacher in Texas earned $38,091 last year. That’s $13,613 less than the average worker in Texas and $14,159 less than the national average. If we want kids to know that we value their future, we need to put the most outstanding Americans in charge of their education and we have to pay them a salary that shows how much we value them. We need to hold these people accountable for success while we provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed. We need to explore new ways to provide access to excellence for our State’s most valuable resource. In order to innovate, we need investment.

So it’s time to ask your representative, whether you voted for them or not, what they will do to ensure that our kids have the best teachers, the most access to quality instruction, and the greatest chance at success.

Since Texas seems to be doing better than ever, perhaps its time our State’s children get their fair share of the wealth.

To find out how to contact your State Representative, click here. And then call them, e-mail them, write them, and pay them a visit. Make your voice heard about this important issue!