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By Fena Patel<\/strong><\/p>\n If only money grew on trees for the Boston Public Schools. With less funds, BPS isn\u2019t able to provide students with all the resources they need, including AP classes, arts, music, and technology. This not only affects students\u2019 learning, but also the quality of public education. This leads to students leaving BPS because they aren\u2019t satisfied with what BPS has to offer. As they leave BPS, the money also leaves BPS and goes with the students. Losing more students in BPS means losing more money. And the cycle continues. In order to solve this problem, we need to redesign BPS in a way that attracts more students.<\/p>\n BPS budget is based on a weighted student formula (WSF); the money follows the student. In other words, students equal money in BPS.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/sup> Due to budget cuts and inadequate funds, teachers and resources are decreasing and class sizes are increasing. Students aren\u2019t getting the attention and the quality education they deserve, thus decreasing the quality of public education. This causes students to either leave BPS to go to charter or private schools or just not come to school.<\/p>\n In an interview, Richard Stutman, the president of the Boston Teachers Union said, \u201cWe lost a lot of students to charter, also lost about $21 million to charter reimbursement, so that\u2019s $21 million less for our public schools\u201d[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/sup>. In order to increase our budget, BPS needs to attract more students. I think that the best way to get students to come to BPS is by giving them what they want.<\/p>\n Students are looking for a place where they can learn beyond the classroom. They are interested in project-based learning, internships, multilingual classes, STEM programs, and arts programs, including performing and instrumental. Students want to graduate from high school knowing STEM skills, speaking Spanish or French, being able to play in a wind ensemble, and having good experiences with the outer world through internships. All this would help students prepare for college and face the real world. And this is what BPS needs to offer! We need to make our public schools like private schools, offering more choices and chances for outside classroom experiences.<\/p>\n \u201cIf BPS is getting money based on weighted student formula (WSF), then the money BPS receives should be enough to educate the students\u201d, you say. Yes, BPS does get money per student. But, that\u2019s not enough considering the money needed for hiring more qualified teachers, and providing sports, AP classes, and internships. The money under WSF doesn\u2019t help in providing students a quality education. Since charter and private schools get more funding, those students get more opportunities to increase their learning.<\/p>\n There still could be more money! What if a new revenue stream could be created to fund the BPS? Using the Community Preservation Act (CPA) as a model, the City of Boston could raise money for public education. The CPA raises money by imposing a surcharge of about three percent or less of a tax levy against real property.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/sup> The City of Boston could do the same for all properties in Boston; exemptions could be built into the system for low-income families. Since the CPA began, \u201cclose to $1.4 billion has been raised to date for community preservation funding statewide.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/sup> If the City of Boston creates a revenue stream like this one, it could raise enough money to provide quality public education. This would be a steady funding source for public education in Boston.<\/p>\n Of course there is never enough money to give everyone what they want. But there should be enough money to give everyone what they need. In this case, every BPS student needs the best quality education. For that, we need sufficient money. Enacting a plan like CPA would assure that. But BPS doesn\u2019t only need money, it also needs more innovation. There isn\u2019t enough innovation in the BPS to attract students. In order to attract more students and more money, BPS has to be redesigned, offering not only what the students need, but also what they want.<\/p>\n Here is more from my interview with Richard Stutman, President of Boston Teachers Union.<\/p>\n