The Lab Schools Still Count: 1982

Since 1982 the funds allocated by Illinois State University for the Lab Schools have supported their mission as a resource for teacher education and preparation — acknowledging the hours of clinical experiences Lab School educators provide for ISU students preparing to be teachers.

From a 1994 document titled “Appropriated (Non-Discretionary) Funds for Clinical Experiences in the Laboratory Schools“

In a 1982 memo to Provost Leon Boothe, Dr. David Strand, then Vice President for Business and Finance, reported:

“Their conclusion is that there is no credit hour productivity which can be attributed to student teaching. Their only option was to place the entire laboratory school budget in a chargeback classification related to the student observation experience.“

Since that time the Laboratory Schools “non-discretionary” funds have been attributed to a chargeback classification related to clinical experiences.

The “non-discretionary” funds received by the Laboratory Schools are used to help finance the multiple mission of the Laboratory Schools with emphasis on the use of the Laboratory Schools as a resource for teacher education and preparation.

Lab School faculty associates continue to provide hours of clinical experiences to ISU students in fulfillment of their mission — more than 50,000 hours each year. That mission still matters.

LSEA is working to make sure the Lab Schools still count — now and for generations to come.