I’m shocked that only 73 percent of superintendents surveyed by the School Superintendents Association (AASA) say their school districts are inadequately funded. I am surprised that it did not exceed 90 percent. I have yet to encounter a superintendent that did not complain about funding or one that actually admitted that funding was sufficient.
According to the report,
Respondents were asked to identify the top five ways their schools would spend additional funds, should they become available. Unsurprisingly, the top five areas of investment were hiring staff/reducing class size (49.9%); increasing teacher salaries (47.8%); professional development (42.2%); education technology (42%); construction/renovation/repairs (42%); and career and technical education programming (41.8%). Other top responses included school counseling (35.6%); total child programming (29.9%); parent/community engagement (19%); career counseling (17.1%); restoring/expanding cocurricular offerings (15.8%); advanced course work (AP/IB) (13.4%); and restoring/expanding extracurricular offerings (13%).
It is curious that “increase reserves” does not appear, given that most expect no additional funding in the future.