School Funding, A Major Priority!

Today, we face so many economic challenges but our commitment to education remains steadfast.  This year, in the face of a state revenue shortfall of more than $1 billion, our recently enacted General Fund budget increased our basic education subsidy by $250 million.  Our economic woes are forcing school districts to furlough teachers.  Academic programs are being canceled.  Many districts have already raised property taxes, their only alternative to fund education when the state does not.  In an editorial article written at Austin American Statesman on Sept. 18th, it was discussed that school funding should be one of the major priority.  In a lawsuit contained Texas school districts that filed alleging that the way public education is funded in Texas is inequitable to the point of being unconstitutional.  School funding system that continues to rely more heavily on local real estate taxes inherently creates disparities in expenditures and the quality of instruction.  While long term commitment to a more equitable school funding system has now been funded for three years, the state is little more than a third of the way toward our full adequacy funding targets.  The federal state mandate requiring all students to meet performance goals by 2014 is now just three years away.  If that standard were in place today, more than 1,500 schools and nearly half of our school districts would receive a failing grade.  During the last eight years, we have made substantial progress to close those gaps.  Finally, we must continue and maintain our commitment to our children to ensure their success.

What do you think of four-year degree guarantees?

While the bachelor's is supposed to be a four-year degree, things don’t always work out that way. It might take five years, six years, or even longer.  Delayed graduation can be the student's fault. He might switch majors after his sophomore year, take only a partial course load in certain semesters, or even fail certain courses.  In other situations, blame lies with the school. It might offer too few sections of a needed course, or an academic advisor might provide faulty information about graduation requirements.  As a kind of insurance against school-caused delays, some private school colleges are offering a four-year degree guarantee to assure whoever is paying for the education that the cost won't milk them dry for six or more years. Alan Schwarz wrote about the deal for New York Times on Sept.14^th. 
 
This trend in colleges and universities requires that incoming freshmen follow certain rules. In signed contracts, these students agree to follow specific behaviors, such as remaining in good academic standing, regularly consulting with advisors and allowing their school to share grades with their parents or guardians. In exchange, the school promises students that they will finish their degrees within four years. If the school is unable to meet that promise, it will cover the tuition for the extra semesters needed, usually up to one additional year.

According to federal Department of Education figures, about 80 percent of undergraduates earning degrees at private colleges and universities do so within four years; at public institutions, where tuition is typically lower, it is 50 percent. These guarantees save students and parents from having to pay additional costs and alleviate fears of having to do so for an unknown period of time. They also give students more incentive to complete their degrees within four years. Colleges with guarantees typically find ways to hedge the risk that they will have to cover a student's tuition.

Unfortunately, the guarantee covers only what the school has control over. It does not cover student failure due to bad grades, changed majors, or trips abroad. Nevertheless, it can't hurt, especially if you're the one paying, which is the case with most adult students.

I think this article is important especially for us college students because it provides an opportunity for us to graduate sooner.  This type of guarantees helps motivate students to work harder in obtaining their degree.