Investing in Our Schools, Our Kids, and Our Future
Public schools are the cornerstone of our community. The students enrolled in Albemarle County Public Schools today will be our future citizens and community leaders. The foundation of a strong educational system lies in adequate funding, which enables schools to provide exceptional learning experiences for all students. In this blog post, I will address why we need to continue investing in our public schools, and how that investment benefits our children, our teachers and staff, and our entire community.
Academic research has found a clear connection between school spending and student performance. A 2019 study by Professor Bruce Baker concluded that “aggregate measures of per-pupil spending are positively associated with improved or higher student outcomes.” Another recent study published in Education Finance and Policy found that a 20% increase in funding for underperforming schools significantly decreased the share of students who underperformed in mathematics, English, social studies, and science. On the flip side, cutting per-pupil spending harms students. A study of school funding changes during the Great Recession by economist C. Kirabo Jackson found that declines in per-pupil expenditures were correlated with a decrease in college attendance rates.
In short, money matters in education. State funding allows schools to invest in resources that are positively associated with better student outcomes, including smaller class sizes, additional intervention and support for underperforming children, early childhood education programs, and more competitive teacher compensation.
Sadly, Virginia has underinvested in its public schools for decades. A study released in July by the General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) found that Virginia’s school divisions receive 14% less funding than the national average: almost $2000 per student. And Virginia’s teachers are undercompensated as well, with an average salary that is approximately $6300 below than the national average.
Furthermore, Virginia has failed to adequately fund school infrastructure, resulting in crumbling schools and children having classes in trailers. The Commission on School Construction and Modernization found that over half of Virginia’s K-12 school buildings are 50 years old and estimated their replacement cost at $25 billion. And construction costs are simultaneously soaring, with a new high school estimated to be at least $100 million, placing it out of the reach of many cities and counties. At a time when the state boasts a $5 billion surplus, it is simply inexcusable for Virginia’s public schools to continue to be underfunded.
I believe we need to invest in our children, not hand more tax cuts to wealthy corporations. Unfortunately, right-wing political actors across our Commonwealth disagree and have branded current per-pupil expenditures as “wasted resources.” We cannot ask our teachers and staff to do more with less, especially when we need to invest in resources like reading and math intervention, professional development, and high-quality teaching materials to help close the opportunity and achievement gaps detailed in the Bellwether Report.
In sum, increased state funding in our public schools is an investment in our future. It's a commitment to creating equitable opportunities, fostering excellence in education, and empowering students to reach their full potential. As a school board member, I will work closely with our state and local legislators to help secure the resources that our public schools need to prepare our children to become informed, engaged citizens and successful contributors to our community.
