Learning reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic is not cheap, and parents of schoolchildren long have been dismayed by the growing expense of basic school supplies that are necessities for the young learners.
In acknowledgement of that, Evergreen Public Schools officials last week announced some changes that will help ease the pressure on parents’ pocketbooks. Meanwhile, the action further highlights the drastic need for fixes in the way Washington pays for public schools.
The district, the largest in Clark County, will spend $275,000 to provide school supplies next year for its 11,000 students in preschool through fifth grade — or $25 per student. While the move will be welcomed by parents — who wouldn’t like an extra $25? — it also points out the fact that a “free” public education is far from free.
A survey last summer by the National Retail Federation determined that American families with school-aged children spent an average of $630.36 on back-to-school purchases. That includes clothing and electronics and is a per-family expense, not a per-student expense, so it’s a little like comparing apples to oranges. But it is an eye-opening figure for parents who discover that their taxes do not cover all the expenses of sending a child to a public school. The annual survey found that back-to-school spending has increased 42 percent over the past decade.
This is particularly problematic for the growing number of families that are living paycheck to paycheck. In the Evergreen district, officials say that the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch has increased from 34 percent to 47 percent over the past decade.
“My board and I have paid a lot of attention to this issue of access and equity,” Evergreen Superintendent John Deeder said. “It’s built around the fact that we have almost half our kids living in poverty. … It’s part of our initiative to support all kids to have equal access to all programs.” Along those lines, students in the district’s middle schools and high schools now will have fees waived for participating in most sports and performing arts.
Making learning and extracurricular activities accessible for all students is the prime directive for public schools. A student’s ability to participate should not be determined by their family’s ability to pay or the ZIP code in which they live, and providing opportunity is essential to educating and to breaking the cycle of poverty. Evergreen will use local levy money to pay for the new programs, getting an assist from state funding that now covers most of the district’s all-day kindergarten.
Paying for some school supplies and making it easier for students to participate in activities is a prudent move, and yet it provides some insight into the conundrum of school funding in this state. The Legislature has approved increased funding in recent years, and yet it remains far short of its constitutionally mandated duty to provide for basic education. School districts long have been forced to rely far too heavily upon local levies, and lawmakers long have provided far too little attention to the situation.
If the Legislature eventually does its job, parents — and teachers — will not feel the burden of paying for basic school supplies; districts will not depend on a levy system that entrenches inequality in public schools; and students will have the opportunities they need to forge a foundation for a successful future.
In the absence of such a system, Evergreen is doing its best to tend to the needs of its students.
