Comments on: The Scary Thing About School Funding…Ghosting http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2009/06/22/the-scary-thing-about-school-fundingghosting/ HoosierAccess.com Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:00:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Joel Harris http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2009/06/22/the-scary-thing-about-school-fundingghosting/comment-page-1/#comment-12498 Joel Harris Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:26:16 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/?p=4029#comment-12498 Indyglss, I believe that the differences in per pupil funding are not strictly because of ghosting. My understanding is that many of the items that you list would cause urban schools to have a higher funding level per pupil regardless of the ghosting issue. One of your items, however--learning disabilities--is covered in a completely different funding method. The state provides funding, for instance, for children who are in need of speech therapy or have more severe disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. This number is not reflected in the numbers quoted by Rep. Culver at all. A child with ASD will bring $8,888 this year to the school corporation from the State regardless of which school system they are attend. I don't think that ghosting really addresses the issues that you bring up. Yes, they are more prevalent in schools with declining enrollment, but keeping funding for children that have moved to another school doesn't really fix anything. Indyglss, I believe that the differences in per pupil funding are not strictly because of ghosting. My understanding is that many of the items that you list would cause urban schools to have a higher funding level per pupil regardless of the ghosting issue.

One of your items, however–learning disabilities–is covered in a completely different funding method. The state provides funding, for instance, for children who are in need of speech therapy or have more severe disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. This number is not reflected in the numbers quoted by Rep. Culver at all. A child with ASD will bring $8,888 this year to the school corporation from the State regardless of which school system they are attend.

I don’t think that ghosting really addresses the issues that you bring up. Yes, they are more prevalent in schools with declining enrollment, but keeping funding for children that have moved to another school doesn’t really fix anything.

]]> By: indyglss http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2009/06/22/the-scary-thing-about-school-fundingghosting/comment-page-1/#comment-12497 indyglss Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:24:42 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/?p=4029#comment-12497 Many schools spend more money per student because their students' needs demand it. In an urban district such as Gary, there is a significant number of at risk students. Students come from single parent families, and families dealing with drug addiction, crime, homelessness, and other issues. These factors are often accompanied by a higher number of students with learning disabilities, or simply more students who are behind in school because their home life is not conducive to their education. This means school systems like Gary and IPS, in comparison to rural and most suburban schools, have to hire more counselors, instructional assistants, security, and other support staff to deal with these obstacles. They have to spend more money per student, and still come short of offering the same opportunities as other districts. Many schools spend more money per student because their students’ needs demand it. In an urban district such as Gary, there is a significant number of at risk students. Students come from single parent families, and families dealing with drug addiction, crime, homelessness, and other issues. These factors are often accompanied by a higher number of students with learning disabilities, or simply more students who are behind in school because their home life is not conducive to their education. This means school systems like Gary and IPS, in comparison to rural and most suburban schools, have to hire more counselors, instructional assistants, security, and other support staff to deal with these obstacles. They have to spend more money per student, and still come short of offering the same opportunities as other districts.

]]>