>> reporter: libby kleeman's two children and brooks-kayal's grandchildren all go to public schools. the kleemans live in the affluent andover. and caton's children live in. >> is it something that just affects poor school? >> no. >> no, not at all. >> the stakes are high for every district in the state, for every child in the state. >> that is a possibility. >> reporter: at jarredin middle school, hit even harder by those cuts, some kids are so needy, teachers do their laundry. principal lura jo atherly: >> i thought we as a state had evolved and understood how important getting our kids ready for college and careers would be. >> reporter: in 2005, a court ordered the state to pay $4,492 per student. in 2008, they spent $4,400. now it's down to $3,838, $654