PND News - Texas Public Schools Turn to Education Foundations

PND News - Texas Public Schools Turn to Education Foundations: "Texas Public Schools Turn to Education Foundations

Education foundations in Texas, which a decade ago were almost exclusively a source of cash for education extras, are increasingly being called on to cover the cost of basic educational needs such as library books, overhead projectors, and student assessments, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The dependence on education foundations, which were born in the 1980s as states such as California and Massachusetts struggled to fund their public schools, has become more noticeable in Texas as funding for education at the state level has shrunk and new mandates like the Robin Hood school finance plan have siphoned education money from wealthier districts. 'Right now, we're raising money for the bottom-line, day-to-day needs,' said Debbie Barton, executive director of the education foundation for the Carroll School District."