Rich Schools vs. Poor Schools: What is a PTA Equity Fund? with Tom Hayden
- Author
- Olivia Wahl
- Published
- Mon 12 May 2025
- Episode Link
- None
In this eye-opening episode, I speak with Tom Hayden, an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Journalism, about the controversial PTA Equity Project (PEP) in Evanston, Illinois.
We dive deep into how this well-intentioned initiative pooled $650,000 from wealthy school PTAs to redistribute resources across the district, but is now burning through $50,000 annually without sustainable fundraising.
Tom reveals the unexpected consequences: conflicts of interest with board members, disincentivized fundraisers, and "black market PTAs."
Discover what really happens when equity initiatives meet complex community dynamics and learn valuable lessons about effective educational funding that balances equity with sustainability.
A must-watch for caregivers, educators, and anyone concerned about educational equity and school funding disparities.
Episode Mentions:
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the PTA Equity Project
02:00 - Evanston's Educational Landscape & Context
05:30 - How the PEP Fund Was Created During COVID
10:15 - The Pooled Funding Model: $650,000 Collected
14:00 - Galas, Fundraising, and Class Divisions
17:30 - The "Black Market PTAs" Problem
20:00 - School Board Conflicts of Interest
23:45 - Capital Improvements: Who Should Pay?
27:15 - Black Student Achievement & Political Solutions
31:00 - Finding Balance in Polarized Conversations
34:20 - Universities' Responsibility in Education Funding
38:00 - Conclusion: Community-Wide Solutions
#EducationalEquity #SchoolFunding #PTAEquityProject #EducationReform #SchoolBoardPolitics #AchievementGap #EducationalJustice #CommunityCollaboration #EvanstonSchools #RacialEquity #EducationPolicy #SchoolResources #FundraisingEthics #ParentInvolvement #EducationalDisparity
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