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Throwing Money at Schools
on May 7, 2009
The billions of dollars in loans that the federal government is pouring into education should save jobs and reform public schools, or at least that's what Education Secretary Arne Duncan says. But all this cash may not create big enough gains in student achievement over the next two years to justify more funding for the system, reports USA Today.
In fact, by 2011, critics of big government spending on education could push for decreased federal funding for public schools, or no funding at all.
"If you were trying to set the system up to look bad, one good way to do it is to throw an awful lot of money at it –– money it can't possibly absorb in two years –– and then expect that you're going to see changes in student achievement," said David Shreve of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
While schools may not show better academic results in two years, they can cut programs that don't work, said Amy Wilkins of the education advocacy group Education Trust. The education community has to make changes with the stimulus funds, she said, and if it doesn't, the government will have a hard time justifying another investment.
For the complete story, visit USA Today.
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