(01-22-2014 10:42 PM)blazerwkr Wrote: I thought BBF would appreciate this article -
States w/ worst schools
Thank you for posting the all too brief article on the various states. I also read some of the comments from "civilians".
All 50 states and D.C. run their own state's school system as though it is the ONLY school system in the world. Therefore, making comparisons between them can be perilous since many important factors are not equal among the various states. One important factor is how school districts are funded in a state, and there is absolutely no uniformity among the 50 states of America.
Alabama uses almost no state property taxes while many states use them as their primary source. Most SETF tax revenue in Alabama derives from the state sales tax (4%) and the state income tax (5%) and are distributed to districts by ADA (Average Daily Attendance) which determine TUs (Teacher Units) based on that year's legislative decision on how many students to a class per TU. They can and do sometimes change that ratio yearly to suit funding. Local districts can, if capable, add local funds from local taxes for only their own local schools.
The Alabama legislature has cut SETF funding per pupil from 2008 through 2012 (according to an article in the Tuscaloosa NEWS that I cited) by almost $1400, the greatest amount in the nation. The article you brought to us may or may not have dealt with ONLY state per pupil funding - it may have used the average for all districts including local funding not available to all other district's schools. (That may be why Gardendale, AL is seeking a new local property tax in order to fund the new local district they want to set up. Hoover will likely have to go in the same direction to cure their funding problems.)
The article pointed out specifically the reading scores in state schools. What makes this really sad is that the state has one of the most celebrated Reading Initiative Programs in the nation - but unfortunately it can afford to place it in only about half of the 133 state districts.
The governor in his State of the State Address praised "pre-K education" and called for it to be increased. Since it was in only about 7% of school districts in 2013, it has a lot of growth potential available if funding can be found.
A battle to be the "worst of the worst" is not what Alabama should be striving to win. .
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were not #1 for BBF
