Why School Districts Matter

I just spent the last 10 days on a college road trip with my daughter, two nieces and my step-mom. We visited 6 colleges and universities in 10 days, and I learned a lot about our education system. There are two hard truths I have to share with you; first, our education system is more unfair than I thought. And second, every student has a chance to go to one of the finest schools our nation can offer. How is that possible? How can those two things both be true? First, we have to remember how our school system works. How does it operate, how do we pay for it, and why does it matter?

Most people aren’t absolutely sure how a school district works, how it is funded or how it runs. In most districts, if you own property, you pay real estate, or school taxes. Those taxes are then used to fund the school district budget. From buildings to ball fields, teachers to transportation, our tax dollars are paying for it all. Districts elect representatives to manage and direct the activities of the district, this is your School Board. The Board members are responsible for creating policies, hiring staff and faculty, selecting classes and text books, in essence, they are responsible for spending our money.

In some districts, they have a very high tax base due to a higher income base which leads to bigger homes in a district, higher assessed values and therefore higher taxes, meaning bigger district budgets. These districts have large schools, some with pools, planetariums and a pedagogy that rivals the most exclusive private schools. Other districts struggle to provide texts and teachers, they have crumbling buildings and disintegrating neighborhoods.  Many of these school districts are in our urban centers and serve a mostly poor and minority constituency.

So what is the difference and why should we care? We should care because intelligence and ingenuity do not understand city limits or socio-economic differences.  We should care because innovation and brilliance are not limited to those who live in McMansions. We should care because the next great idea that will change our world might be in the mind of the kid who can’t do her homework because she has to get a job to help support her family. We should care because that boy down the street, the one with his skittles and wearing a hoodie, he might just have an idea that will change our world forever, and for the better.

And every child deserves the chance to an equal education. And it might shock you to learn that some of the elite education institutions in this country agree with that statement. Some of our most expensive schools are now guaranteeing tuition for those who are accepted regardless of ability to pay the tuition. But getting in is still an issue. Acceptance rates are typically about 10% or less, and the classes you take matter. Schools that offer advanced classes still have an edge. And that still skews the system for students from wealthy schools. But at least it opens the door for more diversity in our universities.