Parents Buy In to Paying For the Basics

By Michelle Galley

Forget buying new band uniforms or paying for the French club's trip to Paris. Now, with the sagging economy, increasing numbers of parents are being asked to raise money for the necessities of public schooling: desks, teachers' salaries, and building improvements.

And to meet those demands, some parents are forming foundations to pay for the music programs, guidance counselors, art instructors, and other programs and personnel that their schools can't afford.

"Schools have always looked to parents to raise funds," said Shirley Igo, the president of the National PTA. While the money once was for stage curtains and air conditioners, she added, these days "schools are asking for more sophisticated equipment...