The Gap in Education Funding

Our children are languishing in inner city and rural public schools across the nation, which are under-funded and understaffed. They are depending on us to fight for their rights to a quality education in decent and safe public schools.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President of the Future PAC and President and CEO of Last Word Productions, Inc., recently contributed an article entitled, "Diversity and the End of Eminence" to the July/August 2006 issue of DiversityInc Magazine. In the article Dr. Malveaux discusses the wide chasm that exists between funding for public schools in urban versus suburban areas. She uses New York as an example and highlights the fact that in 2002-2003 New York City spent $11,627 per pupil, while suburban Manhasset spent nearly twice as much, $23,311, on education. "Black and Latino students make up 72 percent of New York's City's schools but just 9 percent of Manhasset's." Likewise, "Chicago spent $8,482 per pupil in 2002-2003, while Highland Park, Ill., just 10 percent Black and Latino, spent $17,291 per student. "

Many supporters of quality public schools for all believe that there will be inherent inequalities in the way that education is funded as long as schools are financed by property taxes. As a more productive alternative, Dr. Malveaux suggests that we fund K-12 education through the income tax. Without some significant changes, African American and Latino youth, who are disproportionately represented in urban centers, will continue to receive sub-par educations in public schools suffering from a lack of funding.

She encourages us all to be "advocates for inner-city education," because concerned parents and teachers cannot do it alone, but is quick to add that in the end it is our government that must commit the significant resources necessary to rebuild our public educational system.