Making Public Education Better: The Funding Foundation

If we want to make public education better, we have to start at the root: funding. A strong public school system depends on stable, equitable, and adequate resources. Without that foundation, everything else—curriculum, staffing, innovation, and even safety—suffers.

The Hidden Costs of Underfunding

When schools don’t have the resources they need, the impact shows up everywhere:

• Rundown facilities, including leaking roofs, outdated HVAC systems, and aging classrooms, are not just inconveniences—they impact student health and learning.

• Fewer supports for students: Counselors, dyslexia therapists, and resource officers are often the first cut when budgets tighten.

• Larger class sizes: Having more students per classroom means less individual attention and increased stress for teachers.

• Reduced opportunities: Electives, enrichment programs, and extracurricular activities vanish when funding runs out.

The truth is, schools stretch every dollar they can. Teachers often purchase supplies out of their own pockets, and districts must make difficult choices to keep classrooms running. But stretching can only go so far before something breaks.

Why Equitable Funding Matters

Not all communities start from the same place. Wealthier districts can raise more through local taxes, while poorer communities rely heavily on state aid. Without fair funding formulas, the gap widens: students in high-poverty schools often have the greatest needs, but the fewest resources.

This is not just an education issue—it’s a justice issue. Every child, regardless of ZIP code, deserves safe classrooms, qualified teachers, and the tools to learn. If education is the great equalizer, then funding must be the equalizer of opportunity.

Breaking the Myth of “Wasteful Spending”

One of the most persistent myths about public education is that schools are “wasteful.” In reality, most districts allocate the majority of their budgets to personnel—teachers, support staff, and services for students. When budgets are cut, those people and programs are the ones that get reduced.

Efficiency is important, but efficiency cannot replace adequacy. A school cannot “do more with less” forever. At some point, “less” means fewer opportunities for students.

What This Means for Our Platform

• Stable, predictable funding: Schools need to plan long-term, rather than surviving year-to-year on shifting budgets.

• Investing in people: Pay and retain high-quality teachers, hire support staff, and ensure every school has the necessary professionals.

• Facilities that match our values: Students should not learn in unsafe, outdated buildings. Investment in infrastructure is investment in health and dignity.

• Equity as a guiding principle: Ensure funding follows need, not privilege, so all students—urban, rural, affluent, or poor—have the chance to succeed.

  
  

Closing: Build the Foundation First

If we genuinely want to improve public education, we must recognize that everything else rests on a solid funding foundation. Without it, reforms collapse under the weight of scarcity. With it, we can create schools that are safe, inspiring, and equipped to prepare every child for the future.

The choice is simple: invest now, or pay later in lost potential, weakened communities, and unrealized futures. Strong schools require strong funding—because our children deserve nothing less.