School Funding
How does the U.S fund public schools?
The U.S funds its school with three sources: local, state and federal money. On average the spending and budgeting comes down to 45 percent of money that goes to schools is local, 45 percent is from the state, and ten percent is from the federal government. This system of funding creates issues for some schools in less affluent areas because the schools rely so heavily on local revenue and money from property taxes. Since property values vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood so does the revenue schools receives from the tax. This creates inequality in schools in less affluent areas. This tax based system has deep roots in the colonial period in America. In 1647, Massachusetts Bay was concerned that new arrivals in American could not read or write. Literacy was a key component in keeping the Puritans faith. So in order to teach literacy the colony created a law that towns with more than 50 families had to create a school and the town was responsible for funding the school. This system in place is similar to the system we have today.
https://www.npr.org/2016/04/18/474256366/why-americas-schools-have-a-money-problem
Segregation
In 1954 the Brown vs. Board of education supreme court case ruled that the segregation of schools is unconstitutional. Since then the U.S school system has tried to desegregate, however progress on desegregation seems to be diminishing. Federal data released last year showed that high poverty schools serving mostly African Americans has double from 2001 to 2014. African American students are more isolated than they were 40 years ago and many policy makers have abandoned the idea of integration. The problem of segregation is not a problem of schools but it is a problem of neighborhoods. The ways schools are funded cause this segregation. The property tax create unequal schools; therefore creating segregation. Ideas to create integration include creating new school districts and boundaries. Also creating more school choice for students in the U.S.
School Choice
In the U.S there is a controversy over educational choice. The U.S public school system decides where children go to school based on where they live. Schools choice adds more options into the schools system. The idea of school choice is to allow parents to control where their child goes to school. There are public school options; these options run with in the public school system and they are typically state and locally funded. Private school choices are usually redirect government funds from public school or are funded through charitable contributions.
Public School Options:
Charter Schools- These schools don’t operate under the school system they are in even though they will receive funding from the public schools. Charter schools also are not over regulated, so they can experiment and offer alternative education for students. Charter schools are often in high demand and many students are turned away because there is not enough room.
Magnet Schools- Magnet schools offer specialized courses for interested and gifted schools. These schools tend to have selective standards for admissions.
Vocational Schools- These schools teach technical skills like mechanics, construction, etc.
Private School Options
Voucher Program- This idea says that the government would use a portion of the money going to public school to use on tuition for private school.
Tax Credit Scholarship Program- Businesses and individuals can get tax breaks for contributing to school granting scholarship programs (SGO). SGO’s then provide scholarships to local students to use on education.
Education Saving Account- Instead of families paying for private tuition, state governments give funds to qualifying families on a debit card.
Controversy
The supporters of school choice say that it gives parents more options so they do not have to stick to one school district. They also argue programs like the voucher benefit low income families. The critics of this system say that school choice will take away funding from struggling schools and the system degrades public schools. Citics also say the system does not actually represent choice since schools can be selective and turn away students. There is also concern that the government can subsidize religious education which impedes the idea of separation of church and state. The school system is very complex and is in the middle of a very big debate.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/us/school-choice-debate-betsy-devos/index.html
The History of Education 