School Funding Gap

Location is Opportunity

Figure 1: A flat basketball

Have you ever seen a school with a better playground than yours? Have you ever seen a team with nicer uniforms than your team? This is because some schools receive different amounts of money from the state. The schools must distribute this money fairly between each student. Many school districts receive significantly less funding because of where they are located, this is called a Resource Gap. 

Figure 2: Ralph Eating a Burger

Think of it like this. Two male lions, Ralph and Louie the lion, are on their way to different zoos.  Ralph is going to a beautiful facility in a high income town in Florida. Louie is being moved to a small, local zoo in a low income area in Florida. Due to the difference in local funding to each zoo, Ralph and Louie's living conditions will vary. Ralph has a large habitat that includes a pond, plenty of trees for shade, and a large window for guests admire him through. Ralph also receives 5 meals a day plus dessert! Ralph is waiting on the arrival of a female lion and hopes to start a family. Fortunately for Ralph he was placed in a zoo that was able to afford everything he could ever want. 

Figure 3: Louie hungry for more food

Louie is not this fortunate. Louie lives in a habitat half the size of Ralph's. Louie's home includes a tiny water hole, no trees or shade, and a small viewing area. Louie is much smaller than Ralph because he only receives 3 meals a day with no dessert. Louie hopes to start a family, but isn't sure if the opportunity will ever present itself. Even though Louie is given the things needed to survive he wishes his zoo could offer him more. He knows he could live his life to a higher potential he just doesn't know if he will ever be provided with the opportunity to thrive like Ralph. 

This happens in school districts all over the country where students with the same potential receive less attention and less resources because of where they live and where they go to school. This is because half property tax goes toward the school districts.  A student in a low income area will pay around $5,000 in property tax. This means $2,500 goes toward the school. A student in higher income communities pay around $10,000 in property taxes which means $5,000 goes to the school. This means the higher income schools receive double the funding compared to the lower income schools. This means twice the money to buy new supplies when needed. These kids with high potential will never be able to thrive if they don't get the attention and resources to guide them. 

You can read more at: https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/06/07/open-educational-resources-fill-gap-for-underserved.html

(1) Flat Basketball.(n.d.) Retrieved from

            https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/worn-out-basketball.html

(2) Lion eating a burger. (n.d.) Retrieved from 

            https://www.stockunlimited.com/vector-illustration/fat-cartoon-lion-enjoying-a-burger_1957568.html

(3) Lion hungry for more food. (n.d.) Retrieved from

            http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/lion_is_hungry.htm