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Matthew LynchPolicy & Reform
Home›Matthew Lynch›School Reform on a Budget

School Reform on a Budget

By Matthew Lynch
April 21, 2016
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A major mistake made by reform groups is to table educational reform efforts because the expenditure does not fit into the school budget. If children are America’s most precious commodity and the focal point of the nation’s educational system, then the lack of funding is no excuse to forgo reform efforts. Many school reform efforts are cost-effective and can be implemented by resourceful educators. When there is a lack of money, reform is contingent upon the faith and commitment level of the faculty and staff.  Money should not be wasted on model programs and unsubstantiated trends. Reform groups will have to work diligently and efficiently to implement the chosen reform efforts properly and effectively.

When school reform is needed and schools have limited resources, spending money on curriculum can be intimidating. The curriculum chosen will need to be a good fit for both teachers and students. Math and reading should be the first concern, because they are the building blocks for other subject areas, as well the most frequent measure of future success. Success in these two areas bode well for success in other subjects at all grade levels.

Teachers’ professional development is a key factor for successful school reform as well. When analyzing reform budgets, it is important to set aside money to hire teachers with the ability to create and teach in-service professional development programs. The ability to train the staff and educators internally will save the school money, and will give the teacher/expert a feeling of usefulness.

For instance, a teacher with 30 years of experience and a demonstrated ability to obtain amazing results from her specific teaching strategies might create a professional development seminar to share her expertise. This saves the school an enormous amount of money, and saves the administrator the trouble and cost of hiring a consultant. Another low-cost/no-cost option is to hire professors from neighboring colleges and universities to provide professional development services to your district as a form of community service or to fulfill requirements to obtain or maintain tenure.

In the end, schools operating with limited funds to support reform efforts will need to be both resourceful and creative in order to effect positive change. Forward thinking leaders, committed and imaginative teachers, and a supportive community can contribute to change that improves the educational experiences of our children.

 


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TagsEdpolicyedreformput kids firstschool reform
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4 comments

  1. LiberalEd 30 September, 2014 at 05:45 Reply

    Unfortunately, if we want to truly reform our schools, it will take a lot more than pennies. I just wish that people would understand that education is the crux of our schools and future — and that we really need to fund it!

  2. sarahrose00 29 December, 2014 at 19:42 Reply

    I agree that schools need to be resourceful and just find as many ways as possible to reform with the funds they have available.

  3. edmom5 29 December, 2014 at 19:52 Reply

    Yes, schools can maximize their dollars by being resourceful. However, so many schools need am amount of money so great to reform that no matter how resourceful the school is, they’ll still fall (very) short.

  4. Anonymous 23 May, 2018 at 23:34 Reply

    A good write-up! Thank you!

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