Thursday, September 13, 2007

PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS

NY PRIVATE SCHOOLS USE THE MOST FED FUNDS

Samantha Marshall
Published: September 11, 2007

New York’s private schools use federal-funded education programs more than any other state, according to a new report. Fewer than half, or 43%, of the country’s private elementary and secondary schools use these services, according to a just-released report by Washington, D.C.-based think tank The Urban Institute. But 69% of New York state’s private schools arrange for at least one federal service for students, teachers or parents.

There is about $10.7 billion in funding available for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and $19 billion for programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which pays for things like school safety, innovative teaching grants and educational technology.

The money is made available equally to public and private schools. But a large number of private schools either deliberately choose not to make use of the funding, or don’t have enough information about it. “Providing more information to these private schools may help ensure equitable participation for private-school students, teachers and parents,” says Gayle Christensen, an educational researcher and author of the report, titled “Private School Participants in Programs under the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.” New York state has greater use of the services because it has the highest concentration of Catholic schools. Catholic schools in general make more use of federal funds, according to the study.

No comments: