We build that tomorrow may see us: strong in purpose determined in principle warm from the glow of joint achievement - the best possible education for every boy and girl - a continuing and formal cyclical review of all of our program and the assimilation of a population explosion (193,316 additional indi- - the elimination of double shift for the first time in almost 100 years - the completion of 236 buildings and additions and the occupancy of the building of Chicago Teachers College North - the expansion of the City Junior College to eight branches including - the establishment of the single salary schedule - the increase in teacher salary from the $3000 minimum in 1953 to -the increase from an annual maximum accumulation of 10 days - the greatly improved employee pension from $2,880 annually after - the decentralization of the administrative organization and the es- - the conversion to the annual admissions plan - the introduction of the continuous development plan - the reestablishment of tuition-free summer schools – the reorganization of the engineering and maintenance field staff - the expansion of a planned city-wide testing program from three - the expansion of the hearing and vision testing program to include - the strengthening of the requirements for high school graduation the establishment of a four-year cyclical review of what we teach - the utilization of outstanding scholars to review curriculum guides the establishment of consultant service for the academic subjects secure in our planned educational program for present identified needs, and unified in our focus on securing the additional fiscal resources essential to maintaining and improving our program, we are ready to face the future, to fly with the eagles to new mountain peaks knowing that just ahead shines the morning star. 36-177 O 6417 THE CHALLENGE OF FINANCING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN GREAT CITIES This statement was produced as the result of a report to the Board of Directors of the Research Council of the Great Cities Program for School Improvement from: REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GREAT CITIES Aker, Howard, Milwaukee Beecher, Dwight E., Buffalo Butler, E. R., Detroit Carlson, James E., Houston Clapp, Claude D., Buffalo Donovan, Bernard E., New York City Fox, Frederick G., Los Angeles Furno, Orlando F., Baltimore Helms, James K., III, Philadelphia Hill, Donald W., Chicago Lawson, Sam G., St. Louis Lynch, Charles J., Boston McElligott, Joseph P., San Francisco Mellinger, C. S., Pittsburgh Schaefer, John P., Pittsburgh Suessenguth, Karl O., Cleveland Wach, Michael, Cleveland RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF Bertolaet, Frederick, Executive Secretary PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT THE RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITIES RECOMMENDS I. That the cost of providing an adequate educational program for all children be the responsibility of the local, state and federal governments; the local share being determined by ability to pay with due consideration given to the total tax burden on the local community; the state share being in proportion to local effort and of sufficient amount to prevent overburdening local support; the federal share being a supplement to the local and state shares in providing for programs that are in the national interest or for pupils who are a federal responsibility. II. That state financial support programs recognize differences in costs for kindergartens, elementary and secondary general education programs, trade and technical education, and programs for handicapped children; and that provisions for summer school, evening school, and other extension programs be on the same basis as for regular day school programs. III. That building aid be provided for all types of school districts, with full consideration given to variations in the cost of school sites and construction. IV. That the local school tax base be expanded. V. That State or Federal support recognize that the local ability to finance public education is reduced in school districts in which the costs for nonschool governmental purposes are relatively high. The public school systems in the Great Cities of America face a crucial challenge to provide the kind of education which is necessary to meet the social, economic and technological changes taking place today in America. This challenge cannot be met without a renewed and continuing determination by the citizens. It cannot be met without adequate financial support to provide the school systems with the necessary personnel, facilities and materials to accomplish the task expected of them. In 1963 The Research Council of the Great Cities Program for School Improvement published a statement on the desirable policies underlying adequate financial support of public education entitled "FISCAL POLICIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GREAT CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN AMERICA." The present statement is an expansion of that declaration. It seeks to portray statistically the problems involved in financial support of the public schools in the nation's great cities. 36-177 O 64 18 |