Supplemental Budget Takes Money From Kids For Teachers

A little publicized plan within the volumes of the Governor's supplemental budget will seriously impact schools with large populations of "economically disadvantaged students", by shifting funds that school districts now receive specifically for those students, to other educational expenses. The funding has been based on the number of "free and reduced meals" which targets poorer children.

I wonder what the intended consequence of this plan is and how does it better affect the educational opportunities for so called "poor students".

In the January 30, 2008 edition of the Bangor Daily News, Diana Bowley reported:

The governor plans to reduce the state's Essential Programs and Services allocation for economically disadvantaged students by about $9 million, which would be offset by an additional $9 million allocation in federal funds, according to David Connerty-Marin, DOE [Maine Department of Education] director of communications." The $9 million reduction in the economically disadvantaged line is still being sent as subsidy to the state's districts -- it's just being redistributed to other line items," he explained recently.

But in this case of reverse Robin Hood the report reveals that "While those other line items have yet to be determined, Connerty-Marin said the funds could be used in other areas such as teacher salaries."

At least we know for whom the school bells really toll.