The Connection Between Budget and Racist School to Jail Pipeline

The Connection Between Budget and Racist School to Jail Pipeline

During the old civil movement of the 1960s, it was shown that the principle of racially “separate and equal “schools was a myth. The non- White majority schools always got the inferior funding and resources. Although unlawful there are still attempts to create racially “separate and equal” public school systems. The beginning of the charter school movement in Massachusetts was based on the refusal of some White Boston parents to the desegregation of Boston schools.

During the 1990s the issue of separate and unequal schools based on property taxes was remedied to some extent by MGL Chapter 70. This statute removed basic school funding from cities and towns. Under the statute the State would provide a “foundation” budget for all of the public school districts

The foundation budget was based on the number of students in a school district. A monetary figure is assigned to each student. That number is about $6,500.00. So a school district gets that number of dollars multiplied by the total number of students in the district.

The foundation budget did not prevent cities and towns from adding to their respective school budget based on property taxes.  Of course the more affluent towns added more to their school budget as a rule, than did the less affluent cities. Last year Worcester added $500,000 to its school budget on top of the foundation funding provided by the State. Economic disparities continue.

The foundation funding from the State has some problems that need correcting. The first is that more Cities are becoming “Gateway Cities” in which live and work many immigrants and other newly arrived people. This population is larger in some cities than others. The resources needed for this population exceed the $6,500 per student provided by the foundation budget,

Another population that is underfunded are the special needs children whose costs of education greatly exceed the $6500. The cost to educate this group of children is almost two and one half times higher than the foundation funding.

The foundation funding does not cover some teachers’ benefits such as health care. The Gateway Cities’ school districts have more teachers and higher teacher benefits costs. There is little or no property tax money to cover the benefits needed to attract good teachers and ensure their long service.

The so called Gateway Cities and other poor communities have large people of color populations. The cutbacks that occur because of the lack of fully funded schools causes conditions that exacerbate the school to prison pipeline.

There are lacks of supplies. Programs such as art and music are cut. Summer and after school academics are ended. Most importantly the student to teach ratio is increased. Several teachers has said that 35 students to 1 teacher is not uncommon in Worcester.

Lack of teachers, lack of programs, and lack of supplies are setting the conditions for children to get into trouble. These items also increase the likelihood that children experiencing difficulties will drop out. Dropping out will increase the likelihood of problems outside of school.

All children suffer from the underfunding of public schools. Although some school committee people are good people and are somethings to mitigate the lack of adequate funds, some city official do not see themselves as fighters for fully funded schools and an end to the school to jail pipeline.

The City officials should see themselves as asserting the rights of the children who can not do it for themselves. The attitude of “It is not my job “or “color blindness” will not due.

There is a need for a coalition of Gateway Cities and other underfunded school district to be form and pressure the legislature for reform of the Chapter 70 and the end of the racist school to jail pipeline.