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 <<<