Frequently Asked Questions About Public Education

1. Where do education dollars come from? Most public schools have been funded by their communities. Funds from state government can make up almost as much of the total funding as local dollars. The Federal government contributes relatively little to the costs of paying for public school and education. Local 48%; state 45%; and federal 7%

2. Where does the money go? Support Services: 34% - building operation and maintenance, student transportation, nurses, librarians etc., district administration, testing, research, and data processing, Non-instruction expenses: 5% - food services, book stores and athletics Instruction expenses: 61% - teacher salaries and benefits, purchased instructional services, textbooks and supplies

3. Are all school systems equal? Because so much of the money used to fund public schools comes from local sources, it is impossible for less-well-off communities to have the same advantages as more affluent communities where they can spend as much as 5 times more per student. Today, 21% of all children are considered poor, living in communities where they have few precious resources to devote to education.

4. How can we make public schools better? There is much a parent can do to work for improving our public schools and the ways in which those schools are funded. Our schools will only be as strong, as fair, as equitable, and as well funded as we demand them to be. You can help by educating yourself about how school funding works in your community and state and then work to educate everyone else, forming partnerships with others that care about your community schools. Reach out to your school administrators, community members and business interests. Promote greater public awareness of issues involved with school funding and be an advocate for your public schools.

5. How does pubic education reduce cost to tax payers? For every dollar spent to keep a child in school, the future costs of welfare, prison and intervention services are reduced. It can cost less to educate a child now than to support a teenage parent or a repeat offender in the future. Education monies help to secure the future of all citizens.

6. Do public schools meet the needs of all students? They do not turn children or families away. Public schools serve children with physical, emotional and mental disabilities, those who are extremely gifted an those who are learning challenged, right along with the children without special needs.

7. What is the cost of school dropouts? This nation loses more than $240 billion per year in earnings and taxes that dropouts would have generated over their lifetimes. Well-supported public schools can engage all students in learning and graduate productive and competent citizens.

8. Are public school diverse? Public schools foster interaction and understanding among people of different ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.

9. What does it mean when they say "Children are our nation’s future? Our children’s development affects all of us. Good education is not cheap, but ignorance costs far more. We can invest our public funds now or we can pay later.

10. Is high cost of American products related to poorly educated workers? When retraining and remediation are needed to prepare a worker to do even simple tasks, the cost is paid by both employers and consumers. This process raises the price of American products and makes it more difficult to compete in the world marketplace.