Imani Yorker

Professor Grant
COMM 351
May 8, 2018
Position Paper

RE: Educational Budget Cuts

Why cut student funding?

According to the “Aid for the Needy”, budget cuts are expected to be made to educational

programs and used instead for homeless. It is reported that funds will go for building of larger

and more modern shelters. Central College opposes cuts to education funding. Educational

programs in this city are starting to be rebuilt. To take away funding will be counterproductive.

Keep Funding

Education determines one’s socioeconomic status and position in society. The more

education one has, the better off they are in society (Hurd, Defining Higher Education Success).

Students who continue past high school and successfully complete college tend to do well in

society, and have better chances at job opportunities. According to the Department of Labor 90

percent of the fastest-growing jobs in the future will require some post-secondary education or

training (Hurd, Defining Higher Education Success). These students should not suffer from lack

of funding and budget cuts from Governor Williams when other programs in the community are

still receiving funding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education,

National Center for Education Statistics,

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002

 Education is the key to the future. In the Washington D.C. community, the emphasis on

education was moving in a positive direction especially with the successful Early Support

Program. This program gave students hope and made them excited to attend college, especially

with the guarantee that if they completed the program, they would have somewhere to go to

school. Approximately 12 percent of high school graduates do not attend college because their

families cannot afford it and lack of funding (Klein, This Is Why 12 Percent of High School

Graduates Don’t Go To College). Snatching funding from schooling programs is essentially

giving these students a false hope for achievement and forward movement, then literally taking it

away right before their eyes.

How do budget cuts affect programs?

The budget has already been cut by over $600,000 and there are rumors that it will be cut

even more. Now, teachers are unemployed and out of jobs, and those still employed are

overworked and underpaid. As a profession, it is known that teaching is not the most lucrative

position, however when one goes into this field, they are aware of this and do their jobs to the

best of their abilities because they want to make a difference in the lives of youth. Teaching

methods and attitudes affect students more than many realize. When budget cuts are made, it

negatively affects the teacher’s desire to come into school daily and teach the students, which

tends to then affect the students’ performance in the classroom (Rand.org, Teachers Matter:

Understanding Teachers’ Impact on Student Achievement).

Another result of budget cuts is the availability of computer labs, libraries and printing

stations. Facilities will have less staffing and reduced operating hours. The budget cuts operate in

the form of a domino effect, once one area is hit, more are sure to soon follow. With the staffing

cuts, students will have to visit other campuses to use their facilities or find local facilities to use
in the community. To ensure students can receive a quality education with all the needed

resources, it is important to advocate for the government to continue granting education funds.
Bibliography:

Hurd, Nicole. “Defining Higher Education Success.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News &

World Report, 13 Sept. 2011, www.usnews.com/education/articles/2011/09/13/defining-

higher-education-success.

Klein, Rebecca. “This Is Why 12 Percent Of High School Graduates Don't Go To College.” The

Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Dec. 2017,

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/29/why-students-dont-go-to-college_n_5901124.html.

Musu-Gillette, Lauren. “NCES Blog.” Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and

Secondary Education: School Year 2001-2002, E.D. Tab, National Center for Education

Statistics, 30 July 2015, nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/educational-attainment-differences-

by-students-socioeconomic-status.

“Understanding Teachers' Impact on Student Achievement.” RAND Corporation,

www.rand.org/education/projects/measuring-teacher-effectiveness/teachers-matter.html.