Why can't we just ask the parents of the school children to donate what they can?

Senator Brownback cut $50 million from the education budget here in Kansas. Then I read that it works out to about $50 a kid. Why not ask the parents to donate $50 per kid they have in school? All in all, that’s a helluva cheap way to get a good education for the kids.

Yes, I know some parents would have a very hard time coming up with that money but other, more affluent families could pitch in a little more. Grandparents could pitch in. Really, what is $50?