Week+3,+Part+6

Week Three Assignment, Part 6 – Examining Compensatory Education Allotment in Texas School Districts Comp Ed dollars in District 1 = $3,835,006 Comp Ed dollars in District 2 = $633,369 With State Comp funds being based on poverty and socio-economic groups it is no surprise that the funds in District 1 is significantly higher than District 2. With is in mind, District 1 will have a larger portion of their budget tied to funding restrictions. State Comp Ed funds are supplemental and can only be spent on supplemental activities. So not all teacher salaries can be paid with this money, only those that are considered supplemental. This money is also tied to a 55% rule for spending on direct costs. This all point to great news for the district with higher funding, but bad news in that spending these funds may be difficult. However, since District 1 has an economically disadvantaged population of 93.3%, the use of the additional funds will be available to most of students which makes it a bit easier to ensure that you are supplementing rather than supplanting. It does strike me however that even though a great deal of the state aide to the district comes in the form of compensatory education funds - intended to supplement regular instruction - yet total expenditures per pupil in both districts are about equal. Instead of supplementing instruction, it appears that the SCE funds are being used to provide a basic level of instructional support.