Webelieves that all children deserve a high-quality education. With Denver's unprecedented residential listing shortage and continually booming popularity, some families are having difficulty finding a home within their preferred school zone. Often, buyers find themselves focusing more on finding a home they love while remaining in their budget and are unable to even consider what school zone the property is in. This can lead to disappointment and frustration, when future educational plans seem all but dashed.
But, we see a real opportunity for educational improvement amidst this low-inventory housing market. With all types of families moving into virtually every Denver neighborhood, why not ban together as a city, roll up our sleeves, and work to make neighborhood schools the best they can be?
Instead of choicing out of a nearby school that doesn't meet your educational criteria, dismissing that school to be left in the underfunded dust, simply call on the wide-eyed optimism of your inner child and step in where schools need you most! Parents and families can make a real difference at any school by getting involved and becoming educated about school funding practices. Not only will you be schooling school, you'll be providing the best possible education for your little ones and improving your entire community.
Follow these tips and you're on your way to being head of the home buying class - no more stress about finding a home in the perfect school œzone!
Join the PTA
Banish your notions of PTA parents sipping tea, planning parties and gossiping about teachers. PTAs put in the elbow grease to fill funding gaps, attain needed teaching materials, show overworked teachers appreciation they so desperately need, and champion educational causes important to the community they serve. If your neighborhood school has a PTA, join in as an active member. Many struggling schools suffer from over-worked PTA members - they work two or more jobs and simply can't commit the necessary time or they don't have a PTA at all. If your school is sans PTA, contact The National PTA to get started.
Learn About Funding Issues
Colorado's per student funding is far below the national average. This means that financial gaps are often left unfilled, unless the PTA, the community, and/or the teachers step in. Technology and other up-to-date materials are often funded by additional grants, with school budgets being first allocated to basic building and staffing needs instead. Schools truly need community effort in order to provide students with what they need - state and federal funds just aren't cutting it. Are you wondering where all that marijuana tax money that was supposed to help schools went to? It all went to rural school with safety-hazard structural issues urban and suburban schools didn't see a lick of difference.
Bring More Money into Your School
Mill Levies and Bonds are two of the best ways to improve school funding. Mill Levies are additional property taxes that can fund classroom needs and school level programs. Bonds are like a loan taken out by a school district that must be used to improve school infrastructure. Both must be approved through ballot measures and can produce impactful change for a district. If nothing else, vote YES on the next mill levy or school bond ballot question that comes your way! On a smaller scale, PTAs can apply for grants to further support school needs and educational improvement. Fundraisers can also be helpful for small school purchases such as a new piece of technology. By championing improved school funding in your neighborhood you can enrich the learning of thousands of students.
Use Reliable Information
If you do have the opportunity to select a school (whether it be via œchoicing in or identifying a preferred home location), be sure you're looking at the right information. There are many œschool review sites available, but they may not present accurate information sometimes only the squeakiest wheels take the time to login and review a school. Instead, use the state's School View for reliable and unbiased information. And don't forget to visit a school in person before passing judgement. œSchools are so much more than a simple number. We [sent our daughter to] our neighborhood school even though I was trying to avoid it because I fell in love with the principal, says Shawna Fritzler, an active Colorado PTA member and mother.
Support School Faculty
Due to low wages and increasing educational demands, teachers and other school faculty are extremely overworked. Small acts of kindness and thanks travel miles in improving morale and reinvigorating optimistic energy. Consider bringing a baked good to the teacher's lounge, have your child write a thank you note, or just stop in to communicate your appreciation.
The beauty of helping your neighborhood school is that you'll be supporting the education of so many, including your favorite kiddo. And consider this; experiencing a wide variety of diversity could be one the best educational experiences your child could ever encounter. Plus, you can focus your home search on finding your perfect home without blowing your budget.
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