Re: AP Costs and other regressive taxes

["Dr. William C. Cala, Ed.D." <wcala@SERVTECH.COM>]

Our summer worshops focused on equity.  The most important topic was "The
cost of education in Fairport".  This topic was brought about by all of the
"extras" families have to cough up.  We are currently assemblying
elementary, middle and high school lists 'extra' expenses. .. that is to
say, every time a parent must reach into his or her pocket.  Even in the
burbs we have pockets of poverty.  These people are left out of the
high-cost activities.

As a result of our discussions, our opening day theme is Equity.  We will
examine the major factors that roadblock equity:  Money, bullying,
standardized testing and failure to recognize diversity.

Perhaps our community will be able to reach a reasonable compromise and
start "footing" the bill that parents currently shoulder.  This begs the
question:  What about schools (such as those in Alabama and the cities of
USA) that will not see aid increases and most likey experience decreases?

BC
----- Original Message -----
From: "George N. Schmidt" <Csubstance@AOL.COM>
To: <ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 11:00 AM
Subject: AP Costs and other regressive taxes


> In a message dated 8/20/01 3:08:05 AM, quality@A2Q.COM writes:
>
> << When total 'extra' fees get up into the $300+ range per year, to be
paid
> in lump sums at the start of a term, I get the distinct feeling that
> 'universal' public education is not available to all. >>
>
> 8/19/01
>
> It's actually even worse for the inner city.
>
> The AP exam costs usually have to be paid (at least here) in the second
> semester of senior year (few of our kids in Chicago take AP classes junior
> year).
>
> That's also the time when the kid is trying to pay for prom, (last minute)
> college applications, end-of-the-year expenses (say, class trip), and a
dozen
> other things.
>
> Like every other regressive tax, if you add the AP cost atop the other
costs
> of getting to graduation in Chicago (and trying to do it with some pride,
and
> all the perks you've earned), the poor are penalized most.
>
> In Chicago, for years, the Board of Education's Gifted Office paid a
portion
> of the AP exam cost if the kid's family (read here, majority of kids)
> couldn't afford it. I don't know if that's still policy. I do know that if
it
> is, Mayor Daley and Paul Vallas probably took credit for it (just like
they
> took credit for AP, even thought they reduced the number of courses
offered
> in the general high schools and concentrated all of the "advanced" stuff
in a
> dozen magnet schools, with a few others getting some crumbs and the
majority
> getting nothings).
>
> Hype, not hope, was the motto of the last six years here.
>
> George Schmidt
>
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