It’s no secret that the American economy is in shambles; every sector is feeling the pinch. The nation’s public school system, which has long struggled with issues related to under funding, has been hit particularly hard. In fact, the states all but begged the federal government for a safety net just as teachers around the country were being laid off. So, it’s surprising that, with billions in federal funds set aside so that schools could hire needed staff, school districts around the country aren’t making any moves.
In early August, President Obama signed a $26 billion federal aid package that granted $10 billion to the country’s school districts. The money would allow schools to keep existing teachers on staff or rehire those who had been laid off, as well as bring on new teachers, counselors, and other school staff. Instead of moving quickly and creating a hiring boom, many states began thinking of ways to save the money so that it could be used for other school years and purposes.
One of the key points being made by schools is that they’ll be in the same position next year if they use the money for a major hiring rush this school year; they are hesitant to hire for positions that may not be funded down the road. While this is a valid cause for concern, more pressing is the fact that, if schools don’t use the funds now to bring on enough qualified teachers, class sizes will increase and student learning will suffer.
School districts can work with the federal government during the upcoming school year to secure funding for future school years. Today, however, they should access and spend the $10 billion to hire teachers.
The immediate needs of our students should remain the highest priority. A school year spent in an over crowded classroom where there is no time for individualized attention could be a major academic setback for a student. As a nation, we cannot afford that.
