Equity Policy Background- The Elementary Equity Committee began in 1988
- It is a subcommittee of the citywide
PTO Council - a group
primarily made up of the PTO presidents of each school.
- The goal is to create equality of educational opportunities
across all Newton's elementary schools.
- Policy Statement: "All students are entitled to the best
education the Newton Public Schools can provide. Every elementary
school child in Newton should receive a high quality education,
regardless of the area of Newton in which he or she lives."
The Equity Policy classifies four categories of PTO expenditures:
- School Operations - curriculum related expenditures that
fall under the equity cap
- Creative Arts & Sciences Programs
- Teacher stipends and mini-grants
- Principal Discretionary funds
- Library materials
- Teacher Workshops
- PTO Operations - not considered to directly impact the equality
of students' educational experience and therefore do not count
towards the equity cap.
- Newsletter costs
- Teacher appreciation lunches
- Family events
- Hospitality
- Committee expenses
- Core Curriculum - These expenses may not be paid by PTOs
- Staff salaries
- Text book purchases
- Technology - There is no equity cap on PTO technology
spending.
School Operations expenditures are capped by the following equity
spending formula:
#Projected Students x Per Pupil Equity Rate x 55%
|
| Fiscal Year |
Per Pupil Equity Rate |
Spending Rate Per Student |
Projected Students |
| 2004-2005 |
$154.00 |
$84.70 |
275 |
| 03-04 |
$145.00 |
$79.75 |
286 |
| 02-03 |
$140.00 |
$77.00 |
272 |
| 01-02 |
$138.00 |
$75.90 |
276 |
| 00-01 |
$138.10 |
$75.96 |
281 |
| 99-00 |
$134.70 |
$74.09 |
293 |
The Per Pupil Equity Rate is agreed upon yearly by the Assistant
Superintendent for Business and Finance and the Equity Committee.
Click here to see the entire equity policy at the PTO Council site |
