Federal Funding - A Conflict of Interest?

A recent article from The Columbus Dispatch sheds light on a paradox of our education system - there are more low-income students than the late 90s, yet schools are profiting from offering more expansive reduced or free lunch programs. The article enlightens readers as to the financials - Columbus schools offer lunches at prices less than the federal government subsidizes for ($2.57) and thus make a profit from the difference of each lunch. This left us at INeedAPencil wondering if this was a conflict of interest - if education is an avenue for social mobility, why are schools incentivized to educate higher numbers of low-income students for their own profit?

This further reminded us of one of the faults of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). According to the act, school districts must independently notify parents of students who qualify for supplementary education subsidies. If these funds go unused, however, they are relegated back to the district for its own discretionary use. This leaves school districts disincentivized from clearly articulating the supplemental education options to parents, instead writing confusing and lengthy letters that parents will disregard due to lack of clarity. This conflict of interest in parental notification has left many policy makers pushing for reform in the bill's reauthorization as to be more accountable and transparent. 

Access to education and educational services the government provides should never be subject to a conflict of interest.

Articles referenced:

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/05/schoolfood_students.ART_ART_07-05-09_A1_F3EC59T.html

http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3217711.html

Kevin Prior

INeedAPencil Summer Associate

Harvard College 2011