Schools Are Defunded— What Happens Next?
With the recent conversations and orders around defunding public schools, implementing a voucher system etc. it’s really been at the top of my mind about what do I look for to know if this has trickled down and is now directly impacting me, my community and the kids and families I know and love.
So here’s what some brainstorming, “research”, opinions and conversations have put together answering the question — What does a declining school system in my community look like?
Massive Teacher Layoffs
Overcrowded Classrooms
Programs and Activities Are Eliminated
Cuts to Special Education Services
Reduced School Hours or Calendar Days
School Maintenance Halts
Supplies Are in Short Supply (even more than they already are)
Dropout Rates Begin to Climb
Increased Reliance on Fundraisers and Fees
Fewer Support Staff
Security and Safety Concerns
A Rise in Teacher Protests or Walkouts
While this list is not comprehensive it definitely gets the conversation started. So let’s expand upon a few of these…
Massive Staff Layoffs
Staff like counselors, librarians, and nurses would likely be the first to go. This leaves students without critical mental health support, access to books, or basic medical care during the school day.
As we all know, budget cuts often mean slashing salaries and positions. When teachers are laid off, schools are left understaffed, with remaining educators forced to handle larger classes and stretched resources. This leads to burnout and you guessed it — declining quality of education and an increase in student teacher ratios.
Programs and Activities Are Eliminated
Elective courses like art, music, and foreign languages have already seen a decline so I image these would be eliminated pretty quickly. Here in Texas, we would probably save sports for last— I mean we are a football loving state after all.
Cuts to Special Education Services
Students with disabilities rely on specialized instruction, therapists, aides etc.. A defunded system may drastically reduce or eliminate these services, leaving vulnerable students without the support they need. This is already a daily struggle for families so I imagine this wouldn’t be a decline as much as non-existent.
Reduced School Hours or Calendar Days
These changes might lead to shortened school days. This directly impacts learning time and disproportionately affects families who rely on the school day while they work. I know that not having the school day would drastically halt the ability for me to be as successful in my profession. I have a ton of flexibility so if it would hit me I can assume that it would impact the majority.
Decline In Students
With fewer resources and support systems, students—especially those already at risk—begin to disengage. Data shows that there would also be an increase in abuse against children because the additional variables would lead to an increase in domestic violence as a whole. We saw this during Covid and see this extensively already during holiday seasons. Those that can afford alternatives with their time or financial resources through homeschooling, the very limited private schools etc. would likely begin to exercise these alternatives as well. If they even can.
Don’t Care About The Greater Good?
Look, even if you don’t have a greater good perspective the trickle down would hit our own families.
The effects of defunding schools ripple beyond the classroom. Communities lose vital hubs of connection and opportunity. Families are forced to make tough decisions about their children’s futures and economic disparities grow.
What does this truly even look like? What would this mean for so many of us?
History can show us that when education systems are weakened— through defunding, political control etc.—the ripple effects are profound and impact EVERYONE. Undermining schools strips communities of opportunity, limits critical thinking and paves the way for division and inequality to take root. If we don't protect and invest in education, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past, where the loss of accessible, equitable schooling had devastating consequences for society as a whole.
If you look at history here’s what the decline looked like (just to name a few things):
Centralized Curriculum – Standardized education to align with a singular ideology.
Teacher Purges – Removed educators with opposing views or deemed "unfit."
Eliminated Diversity – Restricted access for marginalized groups in schools and restricted education around diversity.
Rewriting Materials - Rewriting textbooks and curriculum.
Censorship of Knowledge – Removing ideas that challenge or contradict a specific agenda i.e. banning books.
Now, when you see this list above does it make you feel like we are in the midst of this right now? I do. I feel it, I see it and I don’t want to deny the presence of what has historically — if you believe the history that is — had a profound repressive and regressive impact on lives and entire countries.
By suppressing critical thinking, creating a disparaging, segregated gap in education, history shows us that it can create a society that is less equipped to challenge injustice, resist authoritarianism, or rebuild values. This educational manipulation we see when we look at the past left long-lasting social and cultural scars.
Heres the questions that keep coming to mind as I think about how a voucher system would impact my community and my kids:
How do we build communities that are part of the solution?
How do we ensure that creating a voucher system doesn’t negatively impact our marginalized communities?
How does this help the greater good and the future of our economy?
How does this better prepare our workforce?
Have thoughts that come to mind for you, feel free to send a message.
