Even when it’s from the most reliable of news sources, data is typically distilled through a particular lens. With the launch of www.knowyourcharter.com last week, consumers have easy access to statistics about local public school systems and charter schools.
Consider the website’s information on Columbus City Schools. It reports that 93.2% of Columbus City Schools funding is spent in the classroom.
This is strange, because that’s not at all what the official Ohio Department of Education (ODE) reports say. From the most recent data set (2012-13), Columbus City Schools invested $470,233,554 in “classroom instructional” expenditures, and $341,095,302 in “non-operating” and “non-classroom” expenditures:
That’s more like 58% in the classroom, not 93%. In an effort to be child-centered, we might re-evaluate $70 million devoted to transportation and food service. If that money can be viewed as part of the “classroom”, then classroom investments expand to 67% of the district’s expenditures.
But that’s still not 93%.
When searching for information, it’s the Ohio Department of Education’s Power Users site that is the most helpful. It’s difficult to find, and often seems to be down, but here’s the link: bireports.education.ohio.gov.
This link permits communities to do their very own research on a school. You can learn the socioeconomic profiles of students, you can learn how many students made it through the third grade reading exam. You can break it down by grade level and by school. You can find out how much your particular school spends per pupil.
Of course, the ODE also has a perspective. It assumes that its measurements tell you something useful about schools. True, you can’t measure “love” in a school, but you can measure suspensions and expulsions (that’s in the “Discipline” tab). Truly, nothing says “love” like “GO AWAY”, no?
Similarly, local parents also have access to legislation before the school board. You can find it here: www.ccsoh.us. That’s where voters can learn that there’s a $5000 “stipend” bonus coming to the person in charge of school leadership development, for doing… what appears to be his job:
That might explain a few things about Columbus City Schools expenditures. But don’t trust an online writer, look it up for yourself.
To read more updates on School Issues, CLICK HERE.
For more ongoing discussion on Columbus City Schools, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.