The Problem

Why is this an issue?

Public schools rely primarily on state and local tax dollars for their funding, but often require federal government support when those fail to provide enough money. Because local property tax revenues are much higher in wealthier areas than less affluent communities, educational inequity is directly related to the structure of public school funding in our country. For school districts located in less fortunate areas, the public education system is a critical aspect of the economy and the students' futures. Without solid funding, qualified teachers are forced to quit or moonlight in order to find financial satisfaction (Economic Policy Institute). When schools struggle to retain high quality teachers, the students feel less connected to their teachers and their academic experience is negatively impacted. As a result, affluent districts are able to obtain more resources and overall provide their students with a better education, whereas students in high poverty areas do not receive as many resources and opportunities. In addition, higher crime rates are often found in low income areas, so students going to school in those areas face not only the challenge of an inferior educational system but also higher rates of violence and trauma without the beneficial guidance that a stable and well qualified school staff could offer them. Without the necessary support, students face a higher risk of incarceration, which will further limit their job opportunities and the chance to break the cycle of poverty (Society Health). Not only does it affect the individuals, it can also affect the economy in terms of productivity and total cost to the economy. If children receive a high quality education, they will be more likely to be productive members of society, be able to support themselves financially, and their earnings will be taxed so they will be supporting governmental programs rather than needing the assistance of those programs.

Evidence there is a Problem

Between 2001 and 2012, the Federal Education Department reported that there was a 44% increase in the funding gap between the richest 25% of school districts and the 25% of the poorest school districts. A federal report by the NCES in 2016-2017 states that 1 out of every 4 schools in the US was marked as high poverty. (How School’s Funding).

Emma Garcia from the Economic Policy Institute reports that Studies of kindergarten classes of 1998 and 2010 prove that the students with a lower socioeconomic status (SES) have lower cognitive skills- this means that students with less money have been proven to be less educated and the gap between the two cohorts have not changed. (Economic Policy Institute)

Sylvia Allegretto and Larry Mishel conducted a study and found that 59% of teachers in 2015-2016, had additional jobs in order to earn more money. Their data also states that 13.8% of teachers either leave their school or the profession all together. (Economic Policy Institute).

“The connection that I will say between education and health would be a healthy mind produces a healthy person. A motivated mind produces a motivated person. A curious mind produces a curious person. When you have those things it drives you to want to know more, to want to have more, to want to inquire more. And when you want more, you will get more. You know where the mind goes the person follows… and that includes health.” —Marco (Society Health)

It is estimated that $500 billion is costed to the economy from child poverty in the US, as well as reduces productivity by 1.3% of GDP (American Psychological Association)

(Brookings 14 facts)

(Our World in Data)

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