what is just: education, excellence and equity
DESCRIPTION
Presentation delivered as part of Difficult Dialogues Spring Forum: What is Fair? What is Just?, convened by The Humanities Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information: humanitiesinstitute.utexas.edu www.idra.orgTRANSCRIPT
What is Just? Education, Excellence & Equity
Difficult DialoguesThe Humanities Institute, UT-AustinApril 2, 2012
Laurie Posner
Senior Education Associate
Intercultural Development Research Association
Is it just that the quality of education that a child receives be determined by zip code or family income?
Photo by Fatimah Martin, Albuquerque Public Schools, IDRA Fulfilling the Promise initiative
Growing Family Income Gap
84,458
41,469
113,205
27,80025,892
13,356
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,0001
94
5
19
48
19
51
19
54
19
57
19
60
19
63
19
66
19
69
19
72
19
75
19
78
19
81
19
84
19
87
19
90
19
93
19
96
19
99
20
02
20
05
20
08
Year
Am
ou
nt
(in
20
08
do
llars
)
80th percentile20th percentile
Adapted from “The American Dream, Then and Now,” Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane in Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances (Russell Sage Foundation, New York, 2011).
Growing Enrichment Gap Funds spent by families to enrich their child’s education
8,872
6,975
5,650
3,536
1,315
8351,264 1,173
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
1972 to 1973 1983 to 1984 1994 to 1995 2005 to 2006
Year
Am
ou
nt
(in
20
08
do
llars
)
Top income quintileBottom income quintile
Adapted from “The American Dream, Then and Now,” Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane in Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances (Russell Sage Foundation, New York, 2011).
Income influences education and education influences income
Chart from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, last updated 2012 (http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm)
Growing College Completion Gap by Income
0.54
0.32
0.21
0.09
0.36
0.05
0.14
0.17
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
Lowest Quartile 2nd Quartile 3rd Quartile Top Quartile
Income Quartile
Fra
cti
on
Co
mp
leti
ng
Co
lleg
e
1979 to 1982 birth cohorts1961 to 1964 birth cohorts
Adapted from “Inequality in Postsecondary Education” by M. J. Bailey and S. M. Dynarsky, in Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances, (Russell Sage Foundation, New York,2011).
Texas Public School System
• Student enrollment – 2nd – Over 4 million students; 60 percent economically
disadvantaged, up 45 percent in decade • Wealth (GSP) – 2nd
• Per Pupil Expenditures – 38th
• Average Salary of Public School Teachers 31st
– Poorest schools (all levels) – least access to qualified teachers
• In 2011 billions cut from preK, k-12 education and scholarships
Sources: Texas Legislative Study Group, 2012; US Census; Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count database; Ed Fuller, 2010 Study on the Distribution of Teacher Quality in Texas Schools; Fair Funding Now!, IDRA, 2011
Fair Funding Now! IDRA, 2011, Data sources: TEA data and The Equity Center
Per Pupil Spending Gap (Texas)
Fair Funding Now!
School, community and family leaders are examining data on the magnitude of school funding cuts (www.idra.org – Fair Funding Now!) and speaking out about how funding cuts and inequities are affecting their schools and communities (schoolfunding.crowdmap.com/)
Stories posted on SchoolFunding Crowdmap
El Recorte de fondos afecto por que mis hijos no pudieron recibir tutoria en el verano. - Parent, Donna ISD
My third grader's math specialist position was cut. He's now spread between three schools. Ours isn't one of them. We could really see a difference in how our daughter was improving when she was meeting with him. - Parent, Helotes
I care for and love my students. I have been deeply affected by budget cuts. I have not had enough money to purchase more playbooks and novels to make class sets so I could allow my children to take a book home to re-read or do homework. – Teacher, Northside ISD
How many countless families have to make the decision between school supplies, uniforms, sports, fine arts and food on the table, rent, utilities and medicine. Shame on us for putting families in that impossible situation on a daily basis. – Community leader, San Antonio
How are funding cuts and inequities affecting your school? To share your story, visit: schoolfunding.crowdmap.com/
Intercultural Development Research Association
5815 Callaghan Road, Suite 101San Antonio, Texas 78228
210-444-1710 • [email protected]
www.idra.org
Strengthening schools to work for all children
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