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Local school census -- how many of you refuse to participate?


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I am sick of the deceptive tactics the city uses.

 

First, they state that it's required by law to obtain the information, but there is not explanation that it is not required by law to submit the info.

 

Every three years, the Commonwealth of Virginia mandates that its school divisions conduct a census of children, ages five through 19, within their boundaries. A portion of state sales tax revenue is distributed to each school division based upon the number of children counted in the census.

 

Then they are asking for funding for children who are not in their school system.

 

More:

Virginia Beach residents should include in the count all children living in their residence, as well as those children who claim the residence as their home. These children may be in public or private schools; home-schooled; in college; in the military; in a group home; a correctional facility; or a hospital.

 

Why should the city receive money for children not being educated in their system? Some people say, "in the event that the child enters back into the school system." So, how many college students return to high school?

 

A complete and accurate census count benefits all citizens in our community. “Our children deserve the very best we can do in conducting a thorough and accurate count.

 

If a census form is not received from an address by March 31, a second mailing will be necessary, which is an additional expense to taxpayers. If no response is received from the second mailing, census-takers will be deployed to homes in an effort to finalize the census count.

 

A complete count can be achieved easily with minimal effort from our residents, but only with their full cooperation can we do the very best for our children,”

 

Really? Oh so worried about the waste of our tax dollars? Then just obtain a head count from the public schools and be done with it. Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to gather this info from the individual public schools than from each household? You would think the school knows how many children attend, right?

 

BTW -- I am sending my census form back today with a note saying essentially what I've expressed here -- though more succintly and more tactfully.

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Well, I did, just because I'm happy to let the school district have more money. (No sarcasm!) That said, I'd be less agreeable if my school district used tactics that I found offensive.

 

This is the first year we've lived in VA, and I'm not thrilled with what I've heard about the districts and hsers in general. But I'm *trying*--and almost expecting to regret it...

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I am sick of the deceptive tactics the city uses.

 

First, they state that it's required by law to obtain the information, but there is not explanation that it is not required by law to submit the info.

 

 

 

Then they are asking for funding for children who are not in their school system.

 

More:

 

 

Why should the city receive money for children not being educated in their system? Some people say, "in the event that the child enters back into the school system." So, how many college students return to high school?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really? Oh so worried about the waste of our tax dollars? Then just obtain a head count from the public schools and be done with it. Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to gather this info from the individual public schools than from each household? You would think the school knows how many children attend, right?

 

BTW -- I am sending my census form back today with a note saying essentially what I've expressed here -- though more succintly and more tactfully.

I'm shocked that anyone would opt to have the local school receive less money for their students. Why would you do that? Education is for everyone to thrive and funding is necessary to do so. The more money a school district has the better they can pay their teachers, supply books, lessons, etc. You've chosen to not participate in the ps machine, but let your dollars educate those who have no alternative. Each state has a specific allocated amount per student and it's distributed according to the school population.

I personally want my children's peers uber-educated to ensure our area remains highly educated which will equate to higher levels of taxes to fund our local government and enhance our lives. Clearly I've simplified the process, but there is a correlation. Don't you desire to have other children to get as good an education as possible in the local schools? It won't cost you anything more than you're already paying in taxes.

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And it was a good thing I learned about this first from the boards, or I would have been really stressed and paranoid and wondering it this was legitimate!

 

Anyway, I happily complied, because we receive speech therapy from the public school, and I thought it was only fair.

 

~Lisa

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I'm shocked that anyone would opt to have the local school receive less money for their students. Why would you do that? Education is for everyone to thrive and funding is necessary to do so. The more money a school district has the better they can pay their teachers, supply books, lessons, etc. You've chosen to not participate in the ps machine, but let your dollars educate those who have no alternative. Each state has a specific allocated amount per student and it's distributed according to the school population.

 

 

My point is that they should only receive funding based on the students actually using the system. There is no reason why they should receive funding for my graduated 18 year old or the boys that are homeschooled.

 

My tax dollars do support the ps system, and my real estate bill shows it. 50 % of our real estate tax go to local education. This is just one area.

 

I also donated school supplies (posters, teacher's magazines, etc) to my local public school and local day care center.

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They asked me what school my kids went to, and I told them they homeschooled. Are you saying that after these folks turned in their paperwork that my kids just appeared as ordinary public schoolers?

 

I suppose I just assumed the public schools couldn't "claim" them?

 

~Lisa

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Well, Lisa, I'm just going on the wording and the fact that they are spending a fortune in postal costs to deliver each census to each family, when if all they really wanted was a head count of ps kids for ps funding, it would have been cheaper and easier to just ask the schools. And sending a public school official to houses who don't submit? It's got to be worth it to them to do so. I saw a public schools van drive through my neaighborhood, which is why I'm getting this census off today.

 

So based on all I just posted, I say "yes, the city is receiving state funding for all children between the ages of 5 and 19."

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Are you saying that after these folks turned in their paperwork that my kids just appeared as ordinary public schoolers?

 

 

Lisa, I do not know about other states, in fact, I'd never heard of this in Colorado. However, in Virginia, the school districts submit JUST a number at the end of the census. The number is inclusive of all children counted between the ages of 5-19 within the county--whether they are public school, private school, homeschool, or out of school.

 

The public schools, obviously, cooperate. The school districts also coordinate to make sure that students from out of a county (district?) are counted within their proper place. All private schools of any size cooperate; I don't recall if there are very small ones that may be more reluctant. The school district can also ask your neighbors (and do!) if they know of any children that aren't being counted. It is my understanding that someone else can advise your district about your children and they can be counted that way.

 

A few months ago, I had a 20 minute or so VERY friendly discussion with our local school administrator in charge of this on this exact topic. It was not within the context of us hsing though, just a general conversation that came about.

 

Someone else commented about the expense. My district HIRES a part time person at 25 hours a week for ~ three months to coordinate all the info and come up with the final head count.

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You're assuming the district spends the money wisely. I live in LA Unified, where the per-student funding is something like $9000 (and the dropout rate is pathetic). But somehow, $9000 per student isn't enough for teachers to have enough textbooks, or paper, or all sorts of school supplies that parents are routinely asked to donate. It's never enough, no matter how many bond issues we vote in. And if anyone cries foul, and asks where the money goes, they're vilified as being anti-education, or anti-teacher. I want the schools to use the money they already receive in ways that make sense.

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but they're not going to give up easily. Last time the census was held, I got a phone call from someone claiming to be doing a "survey." I told the person that I was very busy and didn't wish to participate. She told me it would only take a moment, so I reluctantly agreed. She started by asking about our family and whether we had children in certain age brackets. I told her which age brackets my two children were in, and then she said, "THANK YOU!!" and hung up. I knew instantly where the call had come from. The census takers have no shame at all.

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I don't find the request to be unreasonable, or anything the get in a huff about. They just need to know the amount of children of certain ages who have the RIGHT to a free public education. They need the funding to be ABLE to provide an education for all of those children, whether the parents choose to use the public education system or not. :) Seems pretty simple to me.

 

Also, what about families who move TO the state? They're children deserve a free education also. So, if you're DC do NOT attend, then maybe the funds that the school receives on their behalf, will benefit new students moving to the area. No biggie.

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  • 2 months later...

Digging this post out---

 

I started thinking about the census and we received no letters and no visits. I live in VA. I am beginning to worry that my school district just took the information off our religious exemption. If that is the case, I am a bit miffed about it. My kids cannot participate in anything in our county. I even have a child who needs speech therapy and they refuse to help her.

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We always just respond when we get ours. I realize it's not a particularly efficient funding system (nothing in government is), but public education is one of the most important government functions I can think of, whether my kids attend or not. My aunt complains that so much of her taxes goes to fund education, since she's childless, but I just feel like it's important overall that we all participate in the system, as a society. On the other hand, having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to go on down to my local school board and muscle around, letting the members know just how inefficient and bull-headed they are being about this or that. I've done that on numerous occasions, back when one of my kids attended public school and now, too, when they're all schooling at home. Sandy

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I got it and trashed it twice, and will refuse to answer the door if anyone comes knocking.

 

My husband is a contractor in a government building. I know exactly how the government wastes money.

 

Also, I do not believe in government education, period. That is where the whole thing got screwed up to begin with. I will do nothing more to support it than I legally have to.

 

And before somebody says, well what about poor people who can't afford to educate their kids otherwise, some of the poorest people in our history were some of the best educated, WITHOUT government schooling.

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