MCCSC’s November 7 ballot question is designed to eliminate financial barriers for students at all grade levels, with many families annually receiving benefits worth several thousand dollars.
- The plan offers free or affordable, high-quality PreK for all 3- and 4-year-olds in the community.
- For students at all grade levels, the plan promotes equity by covering costs on items ranging from instructional supplies to AP and CTE test and certification fees.
In detail: The November 7 ballot question seeks voters’ approval for raising MCCSC’s current referendum tax rate (18.5 cents per $100 assessed valuation) by 8.5 cents.
If approved, the referendum will pay for expanded services, primarily early childhood education. The school corporation would provide for all families:
- Free Pre-K for 3-year-olds whose families meet free/reduced lunch guidelines, for an annual cost of $2.5 million.
- Free or reduced-cost 4-year-old Pre-K, for an annual cost of $3.5 million.
In addition, the initiative would support equitable access to education by covering the cost of:
- Student school supplies
- Career and Technical Education
- Advanced Placement (AP) exams
- Student technology and instructional materials
The school corporation formulated this list of benefits by identifying currently unfunded needs, especially those that have a disproportionate negative impact on families with fewer financial resources.
By providing high quality learning experiences for pre-kindergarten children, this plan would increase school readiness and improve life-long educational outcomes. Long-term research on this is clear.
By fully funding instructional materials, exam and career fees, and supply costs, the ballot initiative would remove financial barriers to education for all students and families.
In addition, providing expanded access to quality early childhood education benefits the community economically by allowing more parents of young children to enter the workforce.