Dear advocates,
Public education is a core function of the state and its paramount duty (per the constitution). The state is charged with ensuring equitable and stable funding.
Here are some quick points about the proposed budgets:
The phrase “$2,000 less per student” refers to pre-cut funding levels. Three years ago, K-12 funding included:
Public education is a core function of the state and its paramount duty (per the constitution). The state is charged with ensuring equitable and stable funding.
Here are some quick points about the proposed budgets:
The phrase “$2,000 less per student” refers to pre-cut funding levels. Three years ago, K-12 funding included:
- I-728/student achievement funding
- Money to lower class sizes in primary grades
- Money for professional development
- Money for cost-of-living increases, and
- Various teacher and student supports provided by the state offices.
- Did NOT cover enhancements (like art, music, PE and college- and career-aligned graduation requirements)
- Did NOT cover 6 hours of instruction
- Did NOT cover actual maintenance and transportation costs. (The state was short about $500 million on maintenance alone.)
- Did NOT cover all salaries (about 1 in 4 teachers are funded by local levy or private money)
Over the past two years, districts have absorbed nearly $1 billion in cuts and today are struggling to maintain core programs and staffing. The $2,000 figure represents approximately how much less, per student, the state might send to cover the core services and salaries that funding levels three years ago covered.
