Santa Monica-Malibu Education Fund Asks for a Dollar a Day

December 18, 2012 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Fund is asking parents to contribute a dollar a day through the new year for every student in their household.

As part of the district's decision to adopt a centralized fundraising plan, the Education Foundation is the only organization that can raise money for personnel and professional development.

“The Education Foundation is charged with raising $4 million by January 2014, and every year thereafter, to invest in educational excellence at every school,” Education Foundation officials said.

Parents won't be the only contributors to the new fund.

“In addition to family contributions, the Education Foundation will be soliciting donations from past non-parent donors, corporations, foundations and community members,” officials said.

Funds raised will be spent on math and reading coaches, extra training for current teachers, assistants in the the classroom and special programs tailored to each school's need.

“The campaign’s goal is 100% participation among families, with as much support from the community at large as possible,” said officials.

The new centralized fundraising policy was passed in November 2011, but not without much controversy.

The plan, which the School Board adopted unanimously, bars Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) from raising funds to pay for teachers, personnel or programs at specific schools.

The policy does not affect donations for school supplies or other materials, like computers.

The district-wide policy was adopted in order to assure that students throughout the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District had “equitable access” to programs, despite the amount of money their specific PTAs could raise, according to district officials.

Some schools, especially in Malibu, have been able to raise significant sums to pay for programs and personnel.

Point Dume Marine Science School spent $1,096 per student of private money on “instructional personnel” in the 2011-2012 school year, according to a report by the Superintendent's Office.

Will Rogers Elementary School, on the other side of the spectrum, spent only $36 per student.