Under-resourced NYC School Communities
C. Munnings
INTRODUCTION
Public schools in NYC do not receive the same funding per pupil based on enrollment. Funding for each school and similar (cohort schools) varies widely depending on the socioeconomic status of the community in which the school is located. Schools located in wealthier districts receive more funding than those located in poorer districts, since school funding is linked to the property taxes collected in each respective community.
Students will research and identify the various sources of school funding to determine how to fund/reward students for their academic achievement based on the article, where students/families received monetary compensation for grades/academic achievement. Student groups will select the type of funding, additional funding they are able to obtain for schools (e.g. internet funding sources – Go Fund Me, Donors Choose, School Fundraising Initiatives/Programs, Use of Social Media - TikTok etc.).
TASK
Objective: Students will determine the amount of funding schools obtain from various funding sources by conducting research.
Student Products: Students will determine the amount of additional funding schools could obtain from various private (non - governmental) funding sources. Students will present possible funding statistics from each funding source using a poster, PowerPoint presentation, etc.
Timeframe: 3-7 Days
PROCESS/RESOURCES
Students will select the group that they would like to be a member of and/or the teacher will select the groups for the students.
Students will research the funding obtained (or potential funding) from each funding source (internet fundraising, scholarships/grants, school fundraising initiatives/programs etc.) for schools to determine how to fund academic achievement via monetary rewards for students/families. Using the PPA Process, which is outlined below:
4. Evaluate an Existing Policy
6. Select the Best Solution (Feasibility vs. Effectiveness)
Students will use the directions and the guiding/essential questions (for each group) to conduct their research using a Google Search/NYC DOE funding search.
Directions
● Students will research and determine the government funding (based on property taxes, etc.) obtained for similar schools (at least 2-3 similar schools) located in different communities in NYC, to provide evidence of the problem and the causes of the problem.
For Example,
Total Yearly Funding $ - 6th grade - 12th grade school - Community - Harlem, NY (Manhattan) - Enrollment - 1,000 students
Vs.
Total Yearly Funding $ - 6th grade - 12th grade school - Community - Astoria, NY (Queens) - Enrollment - 1,000 students
Vs.
Total Yearly Funding $ - 6th grade - 12th grade school - Community - Bay Ridge, NY (Brooklyn) - Enrollment - 1,000 students
● Student research groups will select the type of school/grade level for their project based on the types of schools listed below:
Elementary Schools (K - 5th Grade)
Middle Schools (6th - 8th Grade)
High Schools (9th - 12th Grade)
6th - 12th Grade Schools
K - 12 Grade Schools
● Existing NYC DOE - School Funding Policy -
Students will outline the policy and explain how it impacts funding for schools in different communities.
● Students will determine and create possible new school funding policy solutions based on their research. Students will also identify possible avenues for additional school funding, to increase academic achievement in under-resourced communities based on the use of the internet/social media.
Guiding/Essential Questions:
· How much school funding is obtained from the internet (Donors Choose, Go Fund Me, etc.) each year for NYC Schools?
· How much school funding is obtained from scholarships/grants for NYC Schools?
Web pages/Websites, Relevant Articles/Statistics
Resources –
Article - “Paying Kids for Good Grades?”
NY State Funding for Schools from the State Aid Handbook, includes pertinent excerpts on funding for NYC Schools.
Information regarding the NYC Funding of Public Schools is also provided, which includes the website and links for specific information. Students will research School Funding Sources and Statistics for NYC Schools.
Student groups will create a poster/presentation or a Power-Point Presentation based on their research findings.
· Based on the article, “Paying Kids for Good Grades?”, How much funding (money) would be needed to implement the program in their school (or one school)?
· Students will decide/determine how the program could be funded and implemented at their school, based on the article and their research.
EVALUATION - Rubrics
CONCLUSION
Students will write a reflection of the project/process and determine the feasibility of implementing the program in their school, using the Guiding/Essential Questions below:
What have you learned by conducting your group research project?
What did you like about the project? Why?
What would you change or do differently? Why?
Thank you for your hard work and effort.
STANDARDS
Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, accurate data and evidence that demonstrate an understanding of the topic or text, using credible sources.
Evaluate reports based on data.
Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling.