| > | | | | varying degrees of funding ability for most local school |
| This country is in a sad state of affairs when it comes | | | | systems, which in turn creates a lot of competition for |
| to the latest statistics on the education of our youth | | | | existing resources. |
| and based on these statistics, it will take the political | | | | That's why special interest groups compete, and |
| and philanthropic community to continue dialogue | | | | funding priorities become the object of political debate |
| around educational, social, and humanitarian needs of | | | | at all levels - local, state and national. |
| disadvantaged children and families in the future to help | | | | Education is often a major part of both national political |
| resolve the problem. | | | | party platforms as well as local community discussions. |
| There are about 1.5 million elementary school teachers | | | | We have seen that focus in the recent news |
| and 1.1 million secondary school teachers in the United | | | | surrounding our country's recent elections. |
| States, and the amount spent, by average, on home | | | | But just in case we have forgotten, our country's |
| schooling per child in the United States is about $450. | | | | Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution |
| (Source: Charity Navigator.com) | | | | delegated authority over education to the states. Each |
| - Between 8 and 15 million children nationwide are | | | | state varies from highly decentralized local education |
| unsupervised at the end of each school day; | | | | systems to more centralized state systems like |
| - An average deaf child isn't introduced to English until | | | | Hawaii. But the most recent trend has been |
| age six, upon entering school. | | | | movement toward increased state standards with |
| - About 87% of Americans aged 18 to 24 have | | | | new systems for accountability. |
| completed high school with a diploma or an alternative | | | | Interest in Education at the Federal levwel has long |
| credential such as a General Education Development | | | | been part of our culture, and in 2001, under direction of |
| certificate; | | | | President Bush, the Elementary and Secondary |
| -The school districts in the U.S. with the highest child | | | | Education Act was renewed and renamed No Child |
| poverty rates have $1,139 fewer state and local dollars | | | | Left Behind Act (2001). This was a critical step in |
| to spend per student than the wealthiest districts; and | | | | bettering our country's public education - the objective |
| - When among 18 to 24-year-old Americans are given | | | | being - to increase accountability by identifying schools |
| maps, 70 percent cannot find New Jersey and 11 | | | | that were in need of improvement. The ACT also |
| percent cannot find the United States. | | | | called for "highly qualified" teachers in every classroom. |
| This country is in a sad state of affairs when it comes | | | | Of all the localized special interest groups - from |
| to the education of our youth and based on these | | | | football supporters, zoning committees, business, |
| statistics, it will take the political and philanthropic | | | | boards and various other local agencies, there is also |
| community to continue dialogue around educational, | | | | the idea that diverse communities can become divided |
| social, and humanitarian needs of disadvantaged | | | | on school issues. |
| children and families in the future to help resolve the | | | | Religion and political affiliation can also play a role in the |
| problem. | | | | politics of our local education, while public education |
| Although public education has always played an | | | | advocates and privatization groups often differ on |
| important part in politics in this country, it has also been | | | | local policies. |
| subject to continual political scrutiny. | | | | Even community business groups can also be divided |
| Local politics and education are inseparable, as every | | | | regarding the money required for facility improvement |
| city's local school system is an organization with a | | | | projects such as stadiums or school facilities. That is |
| political culture. Various groups from both within the | | | | why effective local school leadership lies in balancing |
| system and outside the system compete for power. | | | | these diverse special interest groups. |
| Typically there are very limited budgetary resources. | | | | The reality is that politics are part of every local school |
| Yet our local school systems are devoted to children | | | | system. Effective local school leaders must learn to |
| and tax dollars -- two of our most important | | | | work within the unique political reality of their local |
| resources. Often times, limited resources cause | | | | system to accomplish organizational objectives. |