Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pushing K-12 off the Fiscal Cliff: CUT DEEP - HOW THE SEQUESTER WILL IMPACT OUR NATION'S SCHOOLS

from the American Association of School Administrators |  http://bit.ly/X2BA9k

The cuts of sequestration are estimated to between eight and nine percent, which would reduce funding for the US Education Department by an additional $4 billion and affect millions of students, classrooms and teachers by increasing class size, reducing programs and services and eliminating educator jobs.

State/ local governments and school districts have very limited capacity to soften the cuts of sequestration:

When asked if their state or local school district have the ability to soften the impact of sequestration, nearly all respondents replied ‘no’.

Nine in ten (90 percent) replied that their state would be unable to absorb or offset the cuts of sequestration, equal to the 89.5 percent indicating that their district would be unable to absorb the cuts.

More than half (54.1 percent) of respondents reported that their budget for the 2012‐13 school year built‐in cuts to off‐set sequestration.

Less than half (45.2 percent) of respondents reported that they are waiting to see when/how sequestration unfolds. Their budgets did not build in cuts to offset sequestration, and they plan to ‘…make any necessary changes as needed, when the cut happen’.

The cuts of sequestration will translate into reductions in and eliminations to personnel, curriculum, facilities and operations.

Respondents reported that the cuts of sequestration would mean:

  • reducing professional development (69.4 percent),
  • reducing academic programs (58.1 percent),
  • eliminating personnel (56.6 percent) and
  • increasing class size (54.9 percent).

As one respondent from Alabama replied, “The bottom line is that kids pay the price.”

Findings:Cut Deep:- How the Sequester Will Impact Our Nation’s Schools

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