I agree with your last point. I talked about this just recently with someone, and the idea we came up with was to base federal and/or state funding for schools on something like property values. It's not ideal, but I can't think of anything else that will give a fair idea of the regional average wages. I don't think that's in census data. In any case, however that regional value is computed/gathered, an algorithm would then take into account cost-of-living index for the area, and compute what the average taxpayer IN THAT AREA could afford in terms of millages. "That area" probably being defined as school district. Then, across the state or national level a baseline level is computed and funds preferentially go toward raising those below that baseline to the baseline. That way, districts get the assistance they need, not some flat amount or something based on test scores. And, they only get what they need to raise funding to that baseline; if the taxpayers aren't paying what the computed value says they can be, that's their choice and local millages can take care of that. Federal funding (and state) would thus be based on need, NOT what's actually being paid or the like.
It's a start. I think that public education is one of the most important things in the country since it sets a standard for colleges, and thus for technological innovation. We're falling behind, and atrocities like "No Child Left Behind" aren't helping.
One thing that'll make passing measures like this easier is if the relevant government body would STOP PUTTING RIDERS ON EVERYTHING. I'd be much more prone to vote for something like the above if it did NOT also have some extraneous clauses about school slush funds, testing requirements, and uniforms. Leave things like that for separate votes. This tendency to clump things together makes it a lot harder to pass anything, since one big showstopper clause ruins the good parts of a bill.
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Date: 2007-08-14 06:04 pm (UTC)It's a start. I think that public education is one of the most important things in the country since it sets a standard for colleges, and thus for technological innovation. We're falling behind, and atrocities like "No Child Left Behind" aren't helping.
One thing that'll make passing measures like this easier is if the relevant government body would STOP PUTTING RIDERS ON EVERYTHING. I'd be much more prone to vote for something like the above if it did NOT also have some extraneous clauses about school slush funds, testing requirements, and uniforms. Leave things like that for separate votes. This tendency to clump things together makes it a lot harder to pass anything, since one big showstopper clause ruins the good parts of a bill.