We're Hot for Teacher
With Labor Day behind us, and the kid’s back at school we’re talking about education in the U.S. and finding ...we’re HOT for teacher!
In the spring of 2018, after decades of quietly doing more and making less, thousands of educators and other public school employees from across the nation stood up, walked out and demanded that WE do better!
Better than 40+ students per teacher, better than rat-infested classrooms and crumbling infrastructure, better than decade-old textbooks held together with rubber bands and masking tape.
Most states were forced to slash budgets after the recession of 2004 and most are still opting to invest less in education than they did a decade ago. And, to make matters worse, public schools received 19% less in federal funding in 2018-19 than they did in 2010, and federal funding to states to meet the requirements of children with special needs is now less than 14 percent, (this is far short of the 40 percent Congress promised).
In a nutshell, our state and federal governments are selling our kids (and our future) short, and it’s the most vulnerable children that are being impacted the most. On average school districts receive $11,000 per student each year, but for districts with high poverty, that number is $1,200 less per child and districts serving the largest number of children of color, see $2,000 less per child than districts serving fewer children of color. With less funding, these districts end up with the fewest supplies, the least rigorous curriculums and the oldest, worst equipped facilities.
But now ...thanks to the walkouts of 2018 (and the thousands of brave and determined educators behind them), a real conversation has begun about how to solve the education crisis in America.
Where do the Democratic Presidential candidates stand?
Democratic Presidential hopefuls laid out their plans for education reforms and gun safety at a recent NEA candidate forum. Here’s the main takeaways:
Warrren wants a wealth tax to fund Pre-K and universal childcare. Binden wants to work with states to provide universal Pre-K for all 3 and 4 year olds. Harris talks increasing federal funding to states so they can better address children with special needs, and Ryan has called for more counselors for students and social and emotional learning in the classroom. You can watch highlights from the NEA candidate forum HERE.
In contrast, the Trump administration's most recent budget proposal proposed a cut to public education by $9 billion dollars, eliminating $2.4 billion in teacher and training & class size reduction efforts, no additional funding for special needs programs and redirecting $1.4 billion of public school funding to school choice, including private school vouchers.
If you want to help public education, and you only have time to do one thing…
Join millions of voices fighting for our nation’s public school students and educators and take the #RedforEd Pledge!
Got a few more minutes? Check out the Get up to date on your state tool at EducationVotesNEA.org.
This quick link offers information about the unique challenges and opportunities that your state’s public schools are facing. It also helps you find elected officials that support public education in your state, provides tips and quick links to help you support public education in your state.
Thanks for tuning into another girltalk. We’re going to keep talking about things we think you might care about.
Our goal with every girltalk is to inspire, inform, and link you to resources and tools that you can use to weigh in, have an impact and create the change you want to see.
In the meantime, if all you do this week is wear a great shirt with a big message that gives back to a great cause..we’ve got a tee for that at ivotelikeagirl.com!
Talk again soon,
Kim and Allie