We Advocate To
Increase funding for family engagement programs and activities, such as the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) program and Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers, to help all schools engage more families in their child’s education
Ensure programs that support low-income students and students with special needs, such as Title I and IDEA, receive substantial funding
Invest in programs that provide students with a well-rounded education and a safe learning environment, including programs that support access to arts, technology, vocational, advanced education opportunities, as well as violence prevention programs and psychological support services
Provide funding for qualified school-based health and wellness practitioners, such as school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists and school
social workers
The Data
Federal funding for public education programs has remained at 2% of the federal budget for decades, despite the increase in public school enrollment and the rising cost of education resources and services [1]
In 2015, 29 states were still providing less total school funding per student than they were in 2008 [2]
According to a 2018 report [3], school districts with the highest rates of poverty receive about $1,000 less per student in state and local funding than those with the lowest rates of poverty
A 20% increase in per-pupil spending for low-income children can lead to an additional year of completed education, 25% higher earnings and a 20% reduction in the incidence of poverty in adulthood [3]
[1] National PTA. (2017). Stop Cuts to Classrooms Campaign Toolkit. Alexandria, VA: National PTA
[2] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2017). A Punishing Decade for School Funding. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
[3] C. Kirabo Jackson, Rucker C. Johnson, and Claudia Persico, “The Effects of School Spending on Educational and Economic Outcomes: Evidence from School
Finance Reforms,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, October 1, 2015.
Voice From the Field
Evie Hudak
Jeffco Council PTA
Colorado’s unique system of education funding makes it exceedingly difficult to generate revenue for public schools.
When Evie Hudak saw a proposed ballot initiative to increase school funding by 20%, she knew she had to take action
to get the initiative added to the ballot. Evie quickly organized her fellow Jeffco Council ϳԹmembers to educate
families and community members statewide about the amendment and the serious lack of school funding that made
it necessary.
As an incentive to get local ϳԹunits involved, Evie worked with Colorado ϳԹto create the ϳԹAmendment 73 Star
Award, which would to be given to ϳԹunits that mobilized the most ϳԹmembers to register to vote and advocate
on behalf of the initiative. The signatures collected far exceeded minimum requirements, and Colorado PTA’s
advocacy efforts helped secure Amendment 73 on the 2018 ballot. Colorado ϳԹcontinues to advocate for
increased funding in education and works with local communities to raise awareness on the issue.