Rep. Ruth Briggs King delivers this week’s GOP message, demanding changes in how the state finances education programs.
Delaware currently allocates more than $2 billion for public education. But King says that the state’s system for funding education must be upgraded to truly benefit students.
“Our current funding system is 75 years old, and was last tweaked 15 to 20 years ago," said King. "The multi-tier, formula-driven system is rigid, and has led to lumpy, unbalanced financing between districts. It has created a perception that the quality of public education is based not on student potential, but on zip code.”
King is a member of the Education Funding Improvement Commission, which began meeting in November to discuss reforms. Some of these involve looking at ways to achieve equity between technical, traditional and charter schools; and provide more flexibility for local schools to use funding to meet student needs.
The commission plans to release their recommendations at the end of March.
Full text of GOP weekly message:
Hi, I’m State Representative Ruth Briggs King.
As a current state legislator, and a former school teacher, I know what an enormous impact education funding has on our classrooms. Delaware allocates more than $2 billion dollars annually to public education. Roughly 60-percent comes from the state, another 30-percent from local taxpayers, with the rest from the federal government.
Our current funding system is 75 years old, and was last tweaked 15 to 20 years ago. The multi-tier, formula-driven system is rigid, and has led to lumpy, unbalanced financing between districts. It has created a perception that the quality of public education is based not on student potential, but on zip code.
In short, our antiquated system is flawed and challenging our schools’ ability to respond to current demands. According to the Education Commission of the States, there are only six other states that use similar education financing models.
Consider that our state is one of only four that does not provide additional resources for English Language Learners, and one of approximately 15 states that doesn’t provide a premium to help educate low-income students.
The Education Funding Improvement Commission, of which I am a member, began meeting in November to consider reforms for modernizing and strengthening the system.
Among other things, the commission is looking at ways to achieve equity between technical schools, traditional schools and charter schools; determine what students warrant additional resources; and provide more flexibility for local schools to use funding to best meet the needs of their students.
While the recommendations will be released at the end of March, there will be no quick fixes. It is likely whatever suggestions the commission makes – even if they find support in the legislature – will take up to a decade to phase-in.
Funding is not the only component of a quality education system, but improving the collection and allocation of our resources is a large step on the path towards giving Delawareans the schools they deserve."
