Nationwide Defunding of Public Education: Billion Dollar Deficits Slash Jobs and Activities
"In July of 2023, Washington D.C. passed a bill to cut nearly $64 billion from educational funding."
With lower attendance projections and not enough money, “the bill reduces U.S. Department of Education funding to its lowest levels since 2006. These cuts affect both K-12 education and higher education funding, making cuts to federally funded education programs across the board, and certain programs would be totally eliminated as a result” (TexasAft).
And here we are, nearly a year later- reaping the consequences. As our school year comes to an end, as do many people’s jobs as districts prepare for enormous budget cuts. Dave Miller from Think Out Loud states that “difficulties mainly stem from inadequate state funding for K-12 public school districts, especially considering inflation and state requirements. Other factors include fewer enrolled students due, in part, to lower birth rates, pensions that need to be paid without allocated funds, higher student needs, and the end of special COVID-related emergency funds for schools.”
The funding he is referring to are those called the ESSER funds, which were adopted during the pandemic of 2020-2022. U.S. Congress gave schools almost $200 billion in three rounds for the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds. “Schools have used that money on everything from building upgrades and sanitation to summer enrichment programs that are meant to help counter some of that learning loss. And now, schools are facing the end of that money. Districts have to decide how to spend the rest of their ESSER Funds by the end of September” (OPB.org).
Nationwide, schools are being forced to cut back. Here are some current numbers:
- California- $38 billion
- Portland Public- $30 million
- Salem-Keizer Public- $60 million
- Minneapolis Public Schools- $110 million
- Saint Paul Public Schools- $107 million
- Medford School District- $15 million
To get a broader perspective of which positions will get eliminated, here is an example from the Medford School District’s website showing total staffing reduction:
- District-level administrators will be reduced by 12.1%
- School-based administrators will be reduced by 8.2%
- Confidential/Manager/Supervisors will be reduced by 5.9%
- Certified Staff (Teachers) will be reduced by 2.5%
- Classified Staff will be reduced by 0.9% (MSD549c)
Library and media specialist positions face the unknown as well. This is especially the case in Oregon, where a proper information specialist accreditation program is lacking, and schools suffer from low numbers of librarians. After-school programs, custodial food service, and support staff are also on the docket to get cut.
However, the buck does not stop at K-12 education. Higher education institutions are also suffering from cutbacks. Some universities are dropping majors- like Missouri Western State University- which has eliminated “dozens of majors and minors including English, history, philosophy, political science, economics, sociology, art, Spanish and French. Eastern Kentucky University shut theater programs and economics. The State University of New York at Potsdam is also cutting degree programs, including in art history, dance, French, Spanish and theater” (Kansas Reflector).
Teachers know that schools were already at a loss for support staff, and now will be faced with the tough decisions on how to fill this void. Public school extracurricular activities like sports, electives, and aftercare are important areas in which our students will miss out on. Many say the decline in enrollment pushes families into private education or homeschooling. As a practicing educator, I can only recommend more activities and more support staff. We will see what the future holds as our academic systems face this different pathway.
Infographic: https://www.medford.k12.or.us/our-district1/fiscal-stability/faqs
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/04/05/evuo-a05.html
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