Adequacy and Equity in School Finance EDAM 732 April 25, 2015 Kathy Tiras

Adequacy An education that is just enough rather than excellent This is one way that financing is done for schools, a minimal amount of funding for some schools Adequacy in school finance is the principle that states should provide enough money to school so that the students are able to meet academic expectations

Funding per student New York funding per student as of 2004 $11,572 California funding per student 2010 $ 8452

How funding is estimated Professional judgment Reproducing what successful schools are doing Cost function and evidence based budgets These systems usually do not take into account special needs children and the cost of the programs to educated them

Problems No standard of what adequate education is or how to finance it Wealthy communities continue to have more money

History of funding Flat funding-funding per teacher instead of student- rich had smaller class sizes and more teachers and got more money Foundation funding-minimal amount from property tax, if not enough state would make up difference-problem poor neighborhoods paying over 50% of their income in taxes

History cont. Reward for effort in 1922 poorer schools did receive extra money Weighted program so more money for special programs also known as categorical program

Rose v Council for Education Kentucky 1985 Court ruling that states must meet certain substantive levels of education quality Courts did not determine what this standard was

American Institute of Research Two Panels of Education Experts Blue Panel Gold Panel Findings regarding Adequacy in California school finances We need to spend 50% more per student than we are actually spending to provide adequate education

AIR report cont. We spend money per child differently depending on where they live We need smaller classroom More services for at risk populations school year Suggested spending Actual spending Blue Panel$12, 365$7, 246 Gold Panel $11, 094

Expenditures in California

Per pupil spending

Equity Principle of fairness Funding in proportion to the needs of the students or the special programs needed for these students to succeed These special programs include children with disabilities, ESL and children living in poverty

Equity Ensuring equity in education is a necessary component in narrowing the achievement gap. Teachers and school leaders ensure equity by recognizing, respecting, and attending to the diverse strengths and challenges of the students they serve. High-quality schools are able to differentiate instruction, services, and resource distribution to respond effectively to the diverse needs of their students, with the aim of ensuring that all students are able to learn and thrive

References Abbott, S. (2014). The glossary of educational reform. Hidden Curiculum. Retrieved from Augenblick, J., Myers, J., & Anderson, A., (1997). Equity and adequacy in school Funding. The Future of Children FINANCING SCHOOLS. 7, 3,