Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Keys to Successful 21 st Century Educational Leadership “Dollars...

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Keys to Successful 21st Century Educational Leadership

“Dollars and Sense: Funding America’s Schools”

Chapter 10

Jazzar and Algozzine

This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following prohibited by law:

–preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images;–any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network;–any rental, lease, or lending of the program.


Our Schools are in a State of Crisis

They face• Declining Budgets

• Increased Class Sizes

• Devastating ChoicesProvide Quality Education . . . While Facing Troubled Economic Times


COLD HARD FACTS

• State Education Budgets were cut back ca. $22.4 Billion in 2005.• State Budgets are running a $45 Billion Deficit.• Shrinking Budgets are evident in the most Populous States (California,

Michigan, Texas, New York, Florida)• Increased Number of Children (650,000) living in Poverty need

special help and additional resources.• Because of Economic Slowdown, Declines in Stock Market Values,

and Hurricane Disasters, the Number of Children Living in Poverty will increase by 950,000 over the next three years.


Shrinking Budgets = Crisis

• Delaying purchases of new textbooks• Continuing deterioration of facilities• Cramming more students into fewer classrooms• Eliminating professional development• Reducing number of teachers• Declining student achievement


Sources for Funding Education

• The Constitution gives states ultimately responsibility. • Federal government may step in to offer help• Approx. 50% of funding from state revenues, mostly from

sales taxes• Local support less than 45% of all funding, mostly from

property taxes• Federal support around 10%, mostly from income taxes


QUOTATION

“ Unless the federal government steps in quickly to financially assist schools, our children will continue to fail.”


Problems with State Funding

• Sales tax proceeds can vary, according to supply and demand, and average personal income of citizenry.

• Sources such as luxury taxes on liquor produce relatively small amount of revenue which preys on human weaknesses and socially questionable behaviors.

• State education cut in funds of 40% in 20th Century could not keep up with inflation.

• State funding through lotteries have not been panacea, as monies often end up supporting operations and not education.


Problems with Local Funding

• Using property taxes favors affluent communities over poorer ones.

• There is correlation between the widening achievement gap and funding gap.

• Bond issues go to school construction only.• Local money remains flat. It does not carry

adjustments for inflation.


Problems with Federal Funding

• Funding for NCLB has been inadequate to meet the demands of the law.

• A 5% increase would just keep up with the rise in inflation and increased enrollments.

• Title I funding, an initiative for disadvantaged children, will not keep pace with increase in poverty.

• As businesses move abroad such as to India and China, the economy will get worse before it gets better.


A PROBLEM WITH FUNDINGNO MATTER WHAT THE SOURCE

ISTHE GOLDEN RULE

“THE ONE WITH THE GOLD, RULES”

(The funding will come with an array of government mandates)


FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION, FUNDING AT ALL LEVELS IS

NEEDED FOR:

• INCREASING ENROLLMENTS

• DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS REQUIRING REPAIR AND RENOVATION

• SALARY INCREASES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED TEACHERS.


Quotation

“When considered in light of state education funding cuts this year, the worsening fiscal picture for states next academic year, and growing child poverty, the federal education budget commitment must more than double in order to respond fully to the needs of America’s children.”


WHAT WILL WORK TO PRODUCE QUALITY EDUCATION

• WELL-PREPARED TEACHERS• ON-GOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT• SMALL CLASS SIZES• MODERN CLASSROOMS• AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER REMEDIAL

PROGRAMS• SUPPORT SERVICES FOR TROUBLED

STUDENTS


THINGS TO RECOGNIZE WHILE FIXING AN IMBALANCED BUDGET

• An extensive review of all programs, personnel, and services is essential.

• No compromise in excellence should be considered: it may be better to eliminate a program or service rather than reduce it to mediocrity.

• Things cannot be fixed with just minor adjustments.


MORE THINGS TO RECOGNIZE WHILE FIXING A BUDGET IMBALANCE

• The budget deficit is not a temporary problem.

• Education is a people business.

80% of all costs are related to personnel.Staff and students will be affected by any cuts.


Keys to Successful 21st Century School Financing

• Reduce administrative costs.• Make budgetary decisions top down. (Reduce

administrative expenditures before touching classroom expenses).

• Outsource non-instructional services.• Manage Health Benefits efficiently.• Structure capital costs effectively.

– A clear debt policy should be in force– Competitive bidding is a must– Refinancing a debt if terms agreeable is recommended


Principles for Effective Use of Debt

• Operations budget should not come from funds derived from long-term debt.

• Long-term debt should be used for capital projects only.

• Debt should not exceed 15% of district’s taxable valuation.

• Repayment of debt should be made in shortest amount of time possible without causing undue hardship on taxpayers.

• Examination of reissuing mortgages in order to achieve a rate of savings is recommended.


Raise More Money: Increase Revenue • Create opportunities for Gifts and Contributions: wills, trusts,

charitable gifts. • Procure grants and foundations support.

– (Caution: be sure grants do not require excessive district funding to maintain initial program)

• Involve policy-makers and support lobbying efforts.– (Invite public officials to attend & participate in school

functions).• Increase support from volunteers• Impose a fee-based system for some expensive subjects and for

some services such transportation and extra-curricular activities.• Enhance media relations. • Provide opportunities for wills• Provide early retirement incentives


WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO?

BEFORE SUING TAXPAYERS FOR MORE REVENUE:

EXAMINE THOROUGHLY HOW CURRENT OPERATIONS AND EXPENDITURES ARE

MANAGED.


IMPLEMENTING SITE-BASED BUDGETING

• Can encourage innovations• Can enhance organizational effectiveness• Can improve financial equity among entities• Delegates limited amount of money but gives real

power for decision-making• Gives more bang for the buck• Zero-based budgeting recommended. That means:

New budget built each yearNew budget not based on previous year’s


Sample Scenario To Reduce Spending: Restructure High School

• If a seven period day, reduce to six periods Increases amount of contact between teacher and

studentsBuilds stronger student-teacher relationships Increases amount of instructional minutesReduces overall number of teacher positions by 7.5

equivalencies

• Add two students per class where possible, resulting in a reduction of full time teaching positions by 6.4 equivalencies.


Sample Scenario to Reduce Spending: Restructure Middle School

• If a seven period day, reduce to six periods.

• Eliminate team teaching and common planning.

• Reduce exploratory classes in foreign languages, music, health, PE, and technology.

• Eliminate 6th grade instrumental and string music courses.

• Encourage that these courses be offered at community education nights or through weekend classes.


Quotation

“. . .the insufficient funding of schools in America may well lead to the demise of the enterprise. . . Elected officials on both sides of the aisle will need to put away political agendas to save our children. Public education has been the foundation of democracy and who will allow this foundation to erode will be identified. Which Child Will Be Left Behind?”

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Keys to Successful 21 st Century Educational Leadership “Dollars...

Documents

Transcript of Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Keys to Successful 21 st Century Educational Leadership “Dollars...