In the spirit of complete disclosure, I volunteer time with my local district’s education foundation. Even prior to volunteering, I applaud the efforts of these foundations. Their contributions are important and many of them are envied for their fundraising prowess.
The author in this article misunderstands how they actually level the funding in many cases:
In the face of severe budget cuts, parents have stepped forward to provide generous donations to the school their children attend. Their largess has resulted in the addition of art and music classes, instructional aides and extended library hours. The problem has been that not all schools have been the fortunate recipient. As a result, the U.S. Department of Education has become involved.To understand why, it’s necessary to recall that since the late 1970s courts have repeatedly ruled that resources must be equitably distributed between rich and poor districts. When parents are permitted to give their own money to one particular school, the effect is to create a two-tier system of education between the affluent and the impoverished. Their contributions only exacerbate the already inequitable distribution of state and local funds. According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Education, more than 40 percent of low-income schools are shortchanged Office of Communications and Outreach, Nov. 30.This disparity is on display in California in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, where PTA donations have amounted to more than $2,100 per student at Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School in Malibu, compared with only $96 per student at McKinley Elementary School in Santa Monica. To comply with past court rulings, the school board is considering centralizing fundraising. Donations would be placed in a districtwide non-profit, which would then distribute the money evenly among all schools. (“Public schools, private donations,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 27.)
via Drawing the Line on Parental Involvement – Walt Gardner’s Reality Check – Education Week.
When I conducted research and evaluation for districts and state education agencies, it was apparent that much of the federal funding supported the poorest districts. For example, schools with majority of their students qualifying for free and reduced-lunch would qualify for technology grants, such as Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT). Qualifying schools would receive equipment and professional development for teachers.
My local district does not qualify for such grants. However, the education foundation makes it possible for the district to purchase equipment and technology for teachers. In this case, funding from the education foundation levels the playing field as compared to those districts that qualify for federal awards. What do you think will happen if the funding through these foundations are re-distributed?
