The Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF) Pilot Evaluation will be released at the State Board of Education meeting today. The education establishment put a lot of faith in DSSF funding, which increased from $22 million in 2004-2005 to nearly $50 million in 2006-2007.
The report concluded,
The Governor and General Assembly increased the state?s commitment to disadvantaged students by more than doubling the funding for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund for 2006-2007 and increasing other funds targeted to confront economic disadvantages, as well. However, the evidence in this report identifies serious issues that may present obstacles for moving greater numbers of North Carolina students into academic proficiency, even with the substantial funding increases.
After the legislature passed increases in funding for disadvantaged school systems, John Dornan of the NC Public School Forum remarked,
The issue now is what will be done with the funds. Will they be spent strategically on programs that can demonstrate real benefits for students; or, will they go to fund things that have little or no return in terms of benefits to young people?
Looks like the latter.
