Equity in Education Funding So a child’s zip code doesn’t determine the value of her education

Areas of Inequity Inequity Why it matters Solutions Special Education Students with severe disabilities reduce funding for the basic program, hitting urban districts hardest SpEd Add-on, Intensive Needs At-Risk populations Costs to provide additional services drain funding from the basic program, hitting low-income districts hardest At-Risk Enhancement, Title I Rural schools Small and rural schools have a higher administrative and transportation burden draining funding from the basic program NESS, Administrative Cost Formula Property Tax Yield District boundaries create different geographic or demographic advantages in some districts over others WPU, State Guarantees, and SB80

Is this a problem?

If so, then this is a problem

What are our funding priorities? Do we believe in a competitive market for teachers that will raise salaries? Are we willing to provide equitable funding so that local control means something? Do we believe in the Constitutional mandate to provide a “reasonably equal” education for every child? Does Park City need the same funding increase as Tooele?

The Promise of the Equity Pupil Unit We have a moral and constitutional obligation to every child The value of a child’s education doesn’t change when a child moves The disparity in per student funding is resulting in wasteful education spending Closing the funding gap between the highest and lowest funded districts will mean more buying power in the market for teachers, which will drive teacher salaries higher Within a generation, we can achieve equitable funding for (nearly) every child