Education System
Government
Infrastructure
Students
Staff
compulsory education laws until 16 years of age --> ensures an entire population MUST interact with this sytem in some way
State, local, and federal governments work together to decide curriculum and standards
book bannings
heavily politicized process
Funding
comes from mostly local taxes
creates inequities and VICIOUS CYCLES for underfunded communities
directly related to racial inequities in many cases
many laws are centered around the idea that education is a shred cultural value
school board officials require no credentials or vetting
many board elections happen in non presedential election years or even midterm cycles
very few people turn out for key votes or referendums
public bids for contruction
hooked up to municipal water and electric, big contributors to demand for communities
local contracts bring about business for community
can foster or negate connections to local communities
side walks and connecting roads
can be an important green space for kids and offer a place to gather
technology contracts
related to funding inequities
big schools require thousands of dollars worth of technology to be supplied individually to students as well as built into classrooms
almost every member of the general public is a product of the school system
whats taught in schools impacts the cultural values generally held as well as our political processes
higher education
colleges feed off of the public school system
institutions may hold biases for and against certain sectors or schools that feed into them
inequitable prep for college applications and workload
parents and guardians of students are also primary stakeholders
private or charter school options are very expensive
companies and workforce
career readiness is a commonly used metric
part of the goal for schools is to prepare students for working
companies are allowed to network and recruit from schools
higher need students
english as a second language
special needs programs
"gifted students"
higher barrier to content
underfunded program
not challenging enough coursework has a detrimental effect on student engagement
not every district has funding for these programs
learning disabilities
physical disabilities and access into the infrastructure of the school
requires para professionals
lower funding and pay for paras
government funded salaries
school board members are not official staff but rather elected officials
lower pay for more work
pay schedule is different than most careers
special education and para professionals
teachers must be licensed
support staff for school buildings: cafeteria employees, janitors, grounds maintenence
Private Companies
collegeboard
sets AP class curriculum
SAT and ACT tests
for profit comapny controlling state funded education
text book manufactueres
controlling the narrative
especially contentious around history and government classes
Alternative Educations
Homeschooling
distance learning
summer programs
inequities to access as many communities will not have the resources to either develop these programs with trained staff or the money to pay for their involvement >>
After School programs
Community Education
Bold and Italics = Identified inequities within systems
MAJOR inequities in the funding systems we have in place that directly tie the quality of our education to the success of the capitalism in the area >>>
Another inequity that again ties how likely youth are to succeed and see value in higher education especially to their financial situations >>>
Connection to alternative education branch and the staff needed to support these programs being absent in many case >>>
LEVERAGE POINT: GREEN EDUCATION
Increasing the ability of youth to experience the outdoors is proven to have positive effects on mental health and academic performance
When interwoven with environmentalism education and sustainable concepts, we could create a new generation of more holistic students
supports green industry and feeds into technology education goals within state curriculym
opportunity for growth and taking advantage of young students natural passions
inequity within the system as some companies will have lower barriers to access for funding, advertising, and recruiting within schools, especially important in conversations like that of the recent divestment poll <<<