Public Education MYTH BUSTERS

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Public EducationMYTH BUSTERS
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Myth 1

• There is a student population boom in our public
  schools, mostly from people moving to Utah from
  out of state.

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In reality

• Population Boom Yes estimated at 150,000 new
  students by 2013.
• Out of state growth Not so much.
• 8 out of 10 are our own children and
  grandchildren.

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Myth 2

• Too much education money is spent on
  administration and not enough money gets into the
  classroom.

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In reality

• Utah is 49th in the nation in administration cost
  - 53.00 a year per student.

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• 7 out of 10 is spent directly in classrooms.
• Teachers
• Teacher aides
• Books and supplies

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• 2.90 out of 10 is spent for
• Principals
• Bus drivers
• Secretaries
• Janitors
• Counselors
• Building maintenance, etc.

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• 10 out of 10 is spent for district
  administration.

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Myth 3

• A large class size does not affect learning.

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In reality

• Families feel the effect of each new baby.
• Classrooms feel the effect of each additional
  student.
• Large classes
• Increase teacher workload.
• Limit individual help.
• Make learning harder.

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Myth 4

• More testing means more learning.

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In reality

• Testing is a valuable tool.
• Too much testing
• narrowed curriculum
• loss of learning time.

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Myth 5

• Utah needs more school choice.

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In reality

• Utah is one of six states with an extensive
  open-enrollment law.
• 30,000 Utah students attend school outside their
  assigned school or district.
• In addition, parental choice includes
• 5,600 home school students.
• 16,400 private school students.

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Myth 6

• Parental involvement in the education of our
  children is optional. After all, the teachers
  are the real professionals.

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In reality

• Effective schools research shows parental
  involvement is critical to school success and
  individual student success at all levels.

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Myth 7

• Teaching is an easy job.

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In reality

• Teaching hard work for low pay. Average
  starting salary - 27,268.
• Average salary for all Utah teachers -40,199.

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Myth 8

• My education was good enough for me and its
  good enough for my kids and grandkids.

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In reality

• Does anyone drive a Model T anymore? Education
  has changed too.
• Additional responsibilities
• Asbestos Abatement to Translation Services
• Technology
• Super accountability

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• Utah schools are teaching more students more
  subjects to higher levels than ever before to
  prepare them for their future.

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Myth 9

• More money is not the answer to improving public
  schools.

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In reality

• Family budget quality of our car, home,
  furniture, clothes, etc.
• School budget quality of education.
• Dedicated education professionals and supportive
  families a good Utah public education.
• Additional money improved educational
  opportunities for our children.

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Myth 10

• Utah schools are failing.

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In reality

• Because the federal No Child Left Behind law has
  some basic flaws, every public school in the
  nation will be labeled failing by 2014.
• U-PASS is Utahs Accountability law which
  compares each students individual growth and is
  a fairer way to measure the success of our
  schools.

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Utah public schools are your schools.

• Each year
• 100,000 volunteers give 2 million hours of school
  service.
• Utahns donate generously to school foundations.
• Many speak up for public education.

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THANK YOU!

• Our public schools truly are our heritage and
  our future.