| Education (Giving Hope to Future Generations) |
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| Priority 1: Reforming the Dual State, and Local funding setup for schools. It is a simple fact that the schools with better funding have been the schools succeeding. For some odd reason crumbling walls, outdated text books, underpaid teachers, inept facilities, and very low per student spending doesn't produce the best learning environment for America's Youth. Here is a study produced by Eugene Kreb's on Ohio's per pupil spending showed that 1/3 of all Ohio schools between 1990-1998 did not receive per pupil funding increases to match inflation. *209 of 612 schools districts did not receive per pupil spending increases equal to an inflation rate of 28% as measured by the Consumer Price Index. *42 districts received Per Pupil funding reductions *94 districts received less than a 10% per pupil funding increase, which is about 1/3 of the rate inflation *143 Districts received less than a 20% increase in Per Pupil Spending---2/3 of the rate of inflation Also in Ohio for example the Per Pupil spending disparity ranged in 1998 from 3345 to 24160. This is unacceptable. These differences are only increasing. The poor districts cannot continue to suffer. The Raines administration would tie federal money in with a minimum per pupil spending rate for every district in the state. If the state is not helping fund the poorer public schools, they will receive less federal money. This will allow more opportunity for more people. Schools keep children off the street. We will not tie money with performance, because the failing schools are the ones that need our help the most. Schools aren't failing because teachers don't care. They fail because the students don't have the resources to succeed. Under the Raines administration the resources would be there. Priority 2: Incentives for teaching. Teaching is one of the most important jobs in America. It is a job the public holds in high esteem, but there is far less incentive to become a teacher than many other jobs. We need to make education degrees affordable by offering scholarships to those entering an education field. Also we need to offer wage incentives for teachers who go to areas that are not performing as well. The fact is high need districts often have trouble getting qualified teachers, because they have fewer resources, and cannot pay as much. By getting these schools the resources and the teachers the opportunities for the Students will be endless. |
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