Educational Funding
Educational Funding
It is essential for educators, parents, and community members to understand the funding systems in our country. If you don't truly understand the system, it is difficult to advocate for the needs of our community members (especially the most vulnerable).
Do you know how your local elementary, middle, and high schools receive their funding? Do you know how young adults who don't have the financial means to attend higher education institutions can further their education? The US Department of Education (DOE) is part of that funding picture.
While your local government primarily funds your neighborhood elementary, middle, and high schools, your state government assists in funding higher education.
This local and state funding primarily comes from property tax with the remainder covered through sales tax and portions of other taxes — such as rooms, meals, purchase and use — as well as state lottery proceeds and state Medicaid money. It is important to remember that other community services such as your local road departments, police and fire services may also rely on funding via similar tax systems.
The federal government fills in the gaps in this funding in the areas shared below some of this is done with federal Medicaid money:
Title 1 provides funding for children from low-income families. Based on their census data, the funding is allocated to local and state governments. Title I is one of the nation's oldest and largest federal programs supporting elementary and secondary education. More than 90% of the school systems in the United States receive some Title I funding.
“The Title I program supports more than 1.5 million preschool students. Four in every five elementary schools that receive Title I offer preschool. the law requires that the state coordinate the services it provides under Title I with those offered under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and other federal early childhood programs. And regardless of whether they offer a preschool program, all districts receiving Title I must develop agreements, and carry out mandatory coordination activities with local Head Start programs. “ Julie Kashen
Providing annual funding to local governments to support special education programs to meet the needs of children with disabilities ( students with IEPs, intervention services, speech & language services, etc). “Congress extended that commitment to our youngest learners by establishing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) preschool grants (Part B, Section 619) and grants for infants and toddlers with disabilities or delays (Part C). According to the most recent data from ED supplied through its budget request, IDEA supports more than half a million preschoolers and more than 400,000 infants and toddlers with disabilities or delays.” Julie Kashen
Grants for school improvement programs that aid in improving educational outcomes.
Providing Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans.
The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education provides funding for technical education offered in high schools, community colleges, technical colleges, and adult education programs (GED and adult literacy).
The Department of Education also provides support for disabled adults (via vocational rehabilitation grants to states through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The funding matches the state funds to ensure equitable services are provided.
As adults, it is okay if we don't know something. It's okay to search for fact-based resources to help us gain a better understanding of a system so we stay informed and can base our concerns on the facts we've learned. It’s okay to say that our public education system needs work.
On the other hand, it isn't okay to base our concerns on opinions or false information. As educators, we need to ensure that the children of the future are set up for success. Everyone in your local community benefits in one way or another from the funding provided by the Department of Education.
