Innovation Spotlight: Baldwin County Public Schools, Alabama
Change is difficult in public education. There are many reasons for this but the way we finance our schools is one of the larger obstacles. Our school districts are not set up to fund innovation. They distribute funds based on staff positions, personnel benefits, and selected programs. These expenses repeat annually and, over time, become entrenched costs. Anything new or different is usually just layered onto the base. Simply adding new programs to existing services may be feasible in good economic times, but it is not an option when funding is scarce.
