Delaware Public Education Funding 1992–2016
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Knowing Newark Opportunities and Challenges for Public Education in Newark A Focus on Funding November 2, 2019 Dan Rich Policy Director, Redding Consortium for Educational Equity University Professor, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration Chris Kelly Associate Policy Scientist, Institute for Public Administration Premise Public education funding should provide sufficient and appropriate resources to meet the learning needs of all students. 1 Based on student learning and funding needs, Delaware has two public education systems. 2 System One • Serves middle class students, from stable families, living in safe communities, with positive family experiences with and expectations of education. • Delaware (and U.S.) public education is designed and funded to meet the needs of these students. • These students are mostly white, and most of these students succeed academically. 3 System Two • Serves students in poverty, from less stable families, living in communities at risk, with little positive experiences with or expectations of public education. • Delaware (and U.S.) public education was never designed or funded to meet the needs of these students. • These students are mostly black and brown and many of these students do not succeed academically. 4 Delaware Education Policy Largely treats students as if they are alike AND Funds schools as if they are alike 5 Delaware’s Two Systems of Public Education are a Product of 120 Years of Policy History • The 1897 Constitution declared Delaware schools (including Newark) formally segregated by race. • Beginning in the 1920s, black students attend 89 schools built by P.S. duPont. • The duPont Schools include the Newark school on New London Rd, now named the Wilson Center. 7 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Separate but Equal is unconstitutional; desegregation, “with all deliberate speed,” is now the law of the land. Two Delaware cases are part of the lawsuit. 1954–1974 No Action taken to Implement Desegregation Newark School District is the highest performing and only fully integrated district in the State. 1974 U.S. District Court Declares Unitary System Eleven districts including the Newark School District are combined to one unitary system to achieve desegregation in northern New Castle County. Source: Hoff, S. (2007, August 14). Delaware constitution and its impact on education. Eccel, J. (2012, April). History of public education in Delaware during past 50 years. 8 1980–1981 Four Districts are Created Christina School District is created, includes western NCC (former greater Newark School District) and a section of Wilmington, separated by 18 miles. NCC Tax District Created to redistribute local resources. 1995–1996 General Assembly Decision Court-ordered federal supervision of desegregation ends Busing continues, Christina School District remains in place. Source: Hoff, S. (2007, August 14). Delaware constitution and its impact on education. Eccel, J. (2012, April). History of public education in Delaware during past 50 years. 9 The Challenge of Governance Blue line indicates city boundary Source: Delaware Department of Education 10 1995 Charter School Legislation Newark Charter School Created: 2000 Las Americas ASPIRA Charter School Created: 2011 1996 School Choice Program Approved In 2017, 8,685 students living in the Christina School District did not attend schools in the district; 5,537 attend charter schools, 1,788 attend vo-tech schools, some choice to other districts. Source: Hoff, S. (2007, August 14). Delaware constitution and its impact on education. Eccel, J. (2012, April). History of public education in Delaware during past 50 years. 11 2000 Neighborhood Schools Act Elementary school students now attend school closest to home. As a result of the Neighborhood Schools Act, Christina District schools in Wilmington were re-segregated. 12 Delaware Education at a Glance 139,144 students enrolled in public schools 15,882 in charter schools 18,847 in private schools 9,102 teachers 19 school districts 22 charter schools Photo Source: http://www.rodelfoundationde.org/ataglance/ Source: Delaware Department of Education, (2017) School Profiles 13 Profile of Public Schools in Newark, 2019 • Christina School District: 17 schools in greater Newark with 10,106 students (total CSD students: 14,408) • Newark Charter School: 3 schools with 2,386 students • Las Americas ASIRA Academy: 1 school 785 student • Non-Traditional Public Schools – The brennen School: 424 students – Delaware School for the Deaf: 102 students – Hodgson Vo-Tech High School: 1,119 students There are also 12 Newark Area Private Schools. 14 Student Diversity and Poverty Delaware student diversity is growing. Source: KIDS COUNT in Delaware, 2018 16 Poverty is the dominant force limiting the educational achievement of Delaware children. 17 Number of children in poverty has increased since 2009. Source: KIDS COUNT in Delaware, 2018 18 Percent of Children in Poverty, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, 2018 • The Child Poverty rate in Newark is 12.6%. • The Child Poverty rate in Wilmington is 38.5% Sources: http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/21316, http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/23129 19 Increasing Demands on Public Education English Learners have risen by 300% since 2001. 2018: 12,790 (9%) Source: DOE Report Card Source: http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/21316 21 Demands on Public Education Special Education Enrollment in Delaware 2018: 21,309 (15%) Source: DOE Report Card Source: Delaware Department of Education, Enrollment Trends for Strategic Plan for Specialized Education Opportunities, October 2016 22 Demands on Public Education 2018: 1,447 (1.04%) Source: DOE Report Card Source: KIDS COUNT in Delaware, 2018 23 Student Profiles Delaware Public Education • Enrollment: 139,144 • Percent Low-Income: 35.4% • Percent English Learner: 9.19% • Percent Students with Disabilities: 15.6% • Percent White/Caucasian: 43.5% 25 Christina School District Students • Enrollment: 14,408 • Percent Low-Income: 40.5% (range:16.9% – 49.1%) • Percent English Learner: 13.6% (range:9.8% – 39.2%) • Percent Students with Disabilities: 21.8% (range: 8.2% – 17.7%) • Percent White/Caucasian: 27% (range:19.6% – 50.3%) 26 Newark Charter School • Enrollment: 2,386 • Percent Low-Income: 8.21% • Percent English Learner: 3.8% • Percent Students with Disabilities: 7.0% • Percent White/Caucasian: 63.2% 27 Las Americas ASPIRA Academy • Enrollment: 785 • Percent Low-Income: 26.6.5% • Percent English Learner: 37.9% • Percent Students with Disabilities: 9.6% • Percent White/Caucasian: 19.9% 28 Increasing Cost of Public Education Delaware Public Education Funding 1992–2016 Source: Delaware Department of Education, DE Educational Statistics Reports 30 Delaware schools spend about $15K per student and most of those funds come from the state. Source: Vision Coalition of Delaware 2019/DOE Delaware School Report Card In 2018, Delaware schools spent an average of $15,153 per student. 31 Cost of Delaware Public Education is Growing • Total cost is about $2.4 billion (state, local, and federal) (Delaware Department of Education). • Public Education Funding is about 34% of the total budget of the State of Delaware (Delaware OMb). • 80% or more of public education funding is for salaries and benefits for educators, administrators and other staff (DE Report Card). 32 State Funding System Funding Overview • State funding is primarily allocated through a unit system. – Districts earn Division I units (staff) based off the number of students in their schools at the time of the 9/30 enrollment count. • Local funding consists of 4 primary components; each constitutes a tax rate applied to the assessed value of real estate within the district. – Current expense – Debt Service – Match Tax – Tuition • Federal funding allocated yearly through Consolidated Application Process. 34 State Division I Unit Formulas • Preschool: 1 unit for 12.8 students • Kindergarten to Grade 3: 1 unit for 16.2 students • Grades 4–12 Regular Education: 1 unit for 20.0 students • Grades 4–12 Basic Special Education: 1 unit for 8.4 students • Pre-K–12 Intensive Special Education: 1 unit for 6.0 students • Pre-K–12 Complex Special Education: 1 unit for 2.6 students 35 State District Administrator Formulas • Superintendent: 1 per school district • Transportation Supervisor: 1 for • Assistant Superintendent: 1 per 300 every 7,000 or more transported Division I units (max of 2) students (based on total enrollment) • Director: 1 for the first 200 Division I • Food Services Supervisor: 1 if less units plus 1 for each additional 100 than 500 units with 4 or more units (maximum of 6 unless buildings with school lunch programs authorized by state code) or 1 if having 500 units or more • Administrative Assistant: 1 per • Building and Grounds Supervisor: school district 1 per school district (requires a • 11-Month Supervisor: 1 for each 150 minimum of 95 custodial units). Note Division I units that 12 custodial units, which are classrooms, equal 1 custodial position. 36 Building-Level Administrator Formulas • Principal: One for each administrative unit in a school building or a combination of school buildings having 15 or more units of pupils • Assistant Principal: Assistant principals are earned at a rate of one full time for the first 30 or more Division I units of pupils or 65 percent of a unit for schools that enroll between 25 and 30 Division I units of pupils. A second assistant principal may be employed when a school reaches 55 Division I units of pupils or 65 percent of a unit