School-based financing of education in Newfoundland and Labrador

Wood, Frederick Bruce (1990) School-based financing of education in Newfoundland and Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study attempted to address the questions being raised regarding school-based financing of education in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since activities and amounts of funds raised are generally perceived to be on the increase, people are beginning to question the economics, ethics, safety, and accountability of school fund-raising. -- Various aspects of this issue were examined: policy guidelines, activities and degree of funding, distribution of funds raised, the educational value of activities, the attitudes of all parties involved in school-based finance, and the organization and accounting of school fund-raising. Emerging trends were identified, as well as comparisons made on the basis of religious denomination, school type, and community size. -- The questionnaire for this study was distributed to 150 principals. Frequency distributions and percentages were determined from those questionnaires returned, while One-way Analysis of Variance tested for significant differences among the three criterion groupings. Interviews were conducted to confirm or refute the statistical findings. In addition, document analysis determined the extent of policy development. -- Findings revealed limited development of policy guidelines, and inconsistent application of guidelines at the local school level. Hundreds of activities were used to raise funds-most variations of sales, services, or sponsorships. These activities raised $5.8 million in 1988-89, or 55.5 per cent of the total school budgets made available to the province's principals. These funds were expended on student transportation, graduation exercises, school supplies, and athletics. The need for program support continues to Increase. -- Support for school-based finance is generally good from all parties, but especially from students, teachers, and parents. Despite such activity, it was found that a wide variation exists among schools in terms of organization and accounting procedures. -- Few significant differences were recorded among the criterion groupings. Only fund-raising totals and board allocations showed a significant difference based on community size. -- Interviews confirmed the sense of frustration felt by all parties involved over the degree to which fund-raising has grown. In addition, document analysis confirmed the lack of policy direction being shown by the provincial government, related professional organizations, school boards, and individual schools. -- It was recommended that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador promote adequacy and equity in educational funding through the adoption of a true foundation plan approach; that school boards begin immediately to develop written policies regarding school-based finance; and that a study be conducted to investigate directly the attitudes of various publics towards school fund-raising.

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