What Does Money Really Have to Do With It?

In education, there is an inequity when it comes to funding. Funding is disproportionately divided among school districts and this can have detrimental effects. In the state of Texas, public school funding is based primarily on property tax. This leads schools to be awarded funds unequally and causes there to be a gap in education funding between wealthy and impoverished communities. Better-funded schools typically result in higher rates of student achievement. Schools that receive more money often have higher-quality educators, smaller class sizes, and are better maintained. Student achievement rates from lower-funded schools are highly impacted due to the lack of academic resources available. The education funds need to be more appropriately dispersed in order to ensure student equity. 

Students who are in poverty often face challenges at school due to stereotypes. These students are often seen as poorly motivated, emotionally troubled, or academically inadequate. These are myths! When teachers see students this way they sometimes lower their expectations for the students or hold disdain towards them. This can greatly impact students’ self-esteem and can actually lead students to fulfill these stereotypes. Teachers need to work hard to dismantle stereotypes about low-income students and make sure students feel secure in the classroom.