Back-to-school jitters hit harder when PTAs have to fill funding gaps. This year, parents at my child’s elementary school were asked to donate $350 per student—far more than in past years—to cover programs the district doesn’t fund. I’m glad to support my school, but the growing reliance on parent contributions highlights inequities: wealthier schools benefit while high-need schools fall further behind. Declining federal and state funding, especially recent cuts, worsens the