I’m working on a social science writing question and need an explanation to help me study.
ELCC Standard 4.3: Candidates understand and can respond to community interests and needs by building and sustaining positive school relationships with families and caregivers.
- Interview six stakeholders who live in your school community regarding their attitudes and understanding of school funding and how schools spend money.
- Select persons from various walks of life, e.g., a school board member, a business, owner, a teacher, a member of the clergy, an administrator, a local elected official, a retired person, a parent etc.
- Select from the questions below. (Remember, most of the people in your community do not know specific details unless they are closely involved with the school district. Don’t expect them to deal in specifics.)
- Compose a report of your findings. You will need to include three sections in your report.
- A brief description of each participant (use pseudonyms or initials) along with an explanation of your reasoning for selecting each participant.
- A summary of the responses of the participants as a whole.
- Recommendations to your school leadership for improving collaboration and communication with the community about how the schools are funded and how the schools spend the resources allocated to them.
Questions:
- In your opinion, how much does the amount of money spent on a public school student’s education affect the quality of his or her education—a great deal, quite a lot, not too much, or not at all?
- Do you know how much money your school spends to educate the children in your district?
- Do you know the current millage rate or tax rate for the schools in your community?
- Here is a short list of possible changes that could cost more money and require additional tax dollars. Please tell me if you would favor or oppose making each of the following changes in your community to improve your public schools. Do you (favor/oppose) strongly or not strongly?
(a) Paying teachers more(b) Placing more computers in classroom(c) Reducing class sizes(d) Fixing run-down schools(e) Adding more security at schools(f) Adding or upgrading gyms or other athletic facilities(g) Adding or upgrading space for band, choir, drama, and visual arts
- To pay for this/these change(s), would you be willing to raise your taxes each year by… $500? $200? $100? not willing to raise taxes
- Do you think extracurricular activities (i.e., the fine arts, athletics, clubs/student organizations) should be funded by the school?
- Do you think that the amount of money that goes to education in your state should or should not be the same for all students, even if it means taking funding from some wealthy school districts and giving it to poor districts?
- Should wealthy school districts be allowed to spend as much as they want on their schools, or should their spending be capped so that poor districts are not left behind?
- How do you think schools in poor communities should be funded?
- Do you favor or oppose the government offering parents money or “vouchers” to send their children to private or religious schools, or public schools outside their district?
- If yes, would you still favor this if it meant there would be less money for public schools in your area?
- Do you believe our school operates with a budget that properly funds each student’s schooling?
- What is your understanding of how schools receive money for operations & payment of debts?
- What can you do as a taxpayer to ensure that public funds are used to benefit children?
- How does your school communicate with the public about how they are spending the money that is available to them?
- Do you believe that faculty, parents, and the community should have input on how the school budgets and spends the monies provided by taxpayers?
- What suggestions do you have for the school district that you believe could be a better use of the funds available to the school?
- What changes would you make in your district and how your district spends money?
- How do you think schools should adjust the budget to account for increasing costs? Ask for a local tax increase? Cut extracurricular activities? Go to a 4-day, 8-hour school week? Others?
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