Budget Analysis: Will there be anyone left to turn on the lights if you don’t lay off teachers?
As we all know, Governor Perry recently stated that school district leaders were choosing to lay off teachers rather than choosing to lay off other staff and reduce non-payroll program expenditures. GOP senators have said much the same thing. For example, Senator Shapiro (R-Plano) stated, “”We have said that from the beginning. There will be cuts. But our first priority will be in the classroom.” Similarly, Sen.Patrick (R-Houston says we have to “prioritize” our spending to focus on the classroom.
While teachers are vital to student outcomes, other positions directly impact student outcomes as well I I showed in another post (http://fullerlook.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/staff-directly-impacting-students/).
Let’s review who directly impacts student outcomes:
1) Teachers and educational aides directly impact student outcomes since they are in classrooms every day with students and both work with students intensively. Educational aides make possible the mainstreaming of special needs students, ELL students, students struggling academically, and students with behavior problems. Without these aides, teachers could not be as effective with all students. If you doubt this, ask a teacher with a diverse groups of kids with different needs and who has an educational aide in her classroom.
2) Principals, assistant principals, nurses, counselors, and librarians also have a direct impact on student
