Melnik, Guzman 1

Yekaterina Melnik
Xitlali Guzman
Professor Kufs
English 114 B
25 March 2015

School Funding Shapes Academic Achievement

I.

Introduction
a. Society has for a long time believed that all public schools are irreparably

broken and that students need to attend private or religious schools for superb
academic achievement.
b. Money plays an important role into how all schools are able to construct their

curriculum and reach within their students the academic potential they desire.
c. Public, private, charter and religious schools can all lack in quality and
effectiveness, no matter the title of the school if has to be funded properly to
succeed.
The subsequent issues of inadequate subsidy:
II.

Insufficient Funds
A. Teachers
1. When schools are faced with low funding students are not the only ones that suffer.
2. Teachers are faced with budget cuts and they loss of employment.

Melnik, Guzman 2
3. Schools cannot provide teachers with the basics to teach students
B. Students
1. Low funding causes students to have a reduced amount of one on one education due to
bigger class sizes.
2. Students suffer if they rely on transportation as well as not having the proper materials
provided.
C. Electives
1. Students lose the opportunity to learn other skills like woodshop or mechanics but also
the arts.
2. They do not get the opportunity to have field trips where they can learn outside of the
classroom.
III.

Schools in low social economic communities

A. Less funding for Lower-Income schools
1. Lower income schools are faced with the sad reality that they do not get equivalent
funding.
2. Already having financial issues they are subjected to even less funding.
B. Test Scores
1. Underfunded schools have lower test scores.
2. These test scores show how the schools need help.

Melnik, Guzman 3
C. Environment
1. Many schools located in poverty stricken communitys unfortunately are not taken care
of.
2. Students are forced to learn in inadequate classrooms.
IV.

Under academic Achievement

A. High funding schools versus low funded schools.
1. Test scores shows they under performance in lower funded schools.
2. The comparison show that funding education is important.
B. Socioeconomic standing
1. Schools economic standing have an effect on students academic level.
2. Reading levels along with writing are below their grade level and their math schools
are not competitive with other students.
C. Graduation
1. Under funded schools have a lower graduation rate.
2. Under funded schools suffer in academics and students who do graduate may not be at
parity with the University level of education.

The subsequent elements of suitable subsidy:

V.

Quality of Education

Melnik, Guzman 4
A. Passionate Instructors
i. The teachers are key to reaching within a student and targeting them in

way that incites them to learn and develop.

ii. Passionate and dedicated instructors took a great deal of effort to reach
their position in life and those who are skilled and accomplished seek
wages that fit their level of expertise.
B. Thought-provoking Curriculum
1. Curriculum is just as important as the instructor teaching his disciples. The method
and books used will shape the students understanding and mark their journey in the
class long before it starts.
ii. This knowledge is not free to schools. Books, material used, methods, and
up to date knowledge all come at a price. The more expensive the material
the more it has to offer the students that will use it to learn and grow.
C. First-Hand Experience
1. First-hand experience opens the eyes and mind of all students into truly understanding
the curriculum and developing their perspective on life.
ii. Field Trips, Projects, Academic Contests such as Science Fairs and many

other experiences provided by schools all come at an expense. This is not

something all schools are capable of providing as it can become
ridiculously exclusive.

Melnik, Guzman 5
VI.

Headstrong Academic Environment

A. Influence to Meet Expectations
1. Academic tests on the curriculum taken by the whole school once a year are referred
to as the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Which helps measure student
achievement and school success.
ii. Schools that are well funded have a prestigious record of academic
achievement that students are influenced to challenge and achieve. These
tests not only show the school is capable of teaching but that the students
are as exceptional as the school.
B. Small Classrooms
1. Well-funded schools are able to afford to hire more staff and due to the variety of
instructors the classrooms are smaller.
ii. Smaller classrooms provide an environment in which students connect to
the instructor and are able to target their flaws and improve their
capabilities.
C. Safety and Health
1. Safety plays an important role in the academic success of any school, as students who
do not feel safe on their campus will stop coming to school and eventually drop out.
This comes at a price as security staff and technology such as surveillance cameras
and alarms are not free.

Melnik, Guzman 6
ii. Health also comes at a price and is essential to the academic success of a

school. Exercise curriculum, food, water fountains, clean restrooms and

health offices that provide ice packs, bandages, and beds to rest are all
expensive. Without a comfortable environment the students will not feel
passionate about their studies.
VII.

Student Resources
A. Tutoring Resources
1. Well-funded schools have additional help available for their students either in after
school programs or additional tutors helping the teacher in class.
ii. Tutors in these situations are professional instructors who also receive
wages.
B. School Supplies
1. Schools that are able to provide their students with essential supplies in classes

achieve higher academic success. This is all due to that fact that not all parents can
afford their childs supplies and this results in a student being unable to develop
properly to the curriculum.
ii. Supplies are costly and to provide every student with essential supplies is
not an easy and low priced task, most schools offer help to those in
financial need and this is essential for academic success.
C. Advanced Technology and Extracurricular Activities

Melnik, Guzman 7
1. Advanced technology certainly helps the school achieve a higher level of education,
as students are eager to learn under such an environment and are able to develop
properly. Technology such as computer labs, computers installed in libraries that help
students find their resources and construct their book reports are all very costly.
ii. Extracurricular Activates such as sports, art, music help students develop

and find their unique abilities that help achieve academic success. They
provide a comfortable dwelling in which the student is able to grow and
function which influences interest in academics. As well all know this is
certainly not free.
VIII.

Conclusion
A. It is an extensively alleged belief that public schools are second-rate to their private and
religious counterparts.
B. The quality of the schools education, a headstrong academic environment and student
resources are all luxurious factors a school cannot ignore in order to be successful and to
harbor successful students.
C. With all of the supporting evidence we can see that any school can achieve a high level of
academic success if it is properly funded.