From buses to books, almost everything in public schools depend on government funding. Schools rely on money from local governments and the state to pay for teachers, classroom materials, educational programs, and activities. But when the government cuts school funding, it leaves a huge lasting impact on students and teachers.
After the Great Recession, public schools across the U.S. lost an estimated $600 billion in funding. If their budgets stayed the same, they would have received that money. These cuts led to clear problems. Today, these problems are still around. Donald Trump’s budget plans often suggested cutting money for education, especially from programs that help low-income students and after-school activities. Students in these schools had lower test scores and lower college enrollment rates, according to the Learning Policy Institute. Schools also reported having outdated textbooks, larger class sizes, and fewer support staff.
Teachers also notice these changes. Government and economics teacher Alexandra Dove explained that school funding cuts often happen because they make up a large part of state and local budgets. She also said that schools in lower-income areas are usually the most affected because they don’t have as many people who can speak up for them. Dove shared that art programs are the first initiatives cut, since people often see them as “extra.” She added that bigger class sizes and fewer resources affect teacher motivation: “We don’t feel as appreciated or supported … We have to provide support for more students, which means we can’t give as much individual help.”
Katherine Landa, the site accounting technician at Mills High School, explained that she has not seen major funding cuts at our school yet. She said that activities and after-school programs are still running normally. According to her, our school is still receiving enough support from the district.
However, Landa also shared what things would look like if budget cuts were to happen. She said that every department would feel impacted, not just one area. There would likely be fewer classroom supplies being ordered, which would affect teachers and students. Over time, cuts could make it harder to maintain programs, buy new materials, or support all activities.
Even though the impact looks different across all schools, most agree that funding cuts make it harder for students to get what they need. When money goes down, students lose learning resources, teachers get less support, and programs become more at risk. Government funding plays a major role in the success of schools. When funding is strong, students get better opportunities. When it’s cut, the whole school community is affected.
