School Finance and Funding

Source: Fordham Institute

Date: 7/11/2023

Think Again: Is education funding in America still unequal?

Historically, many American students from poor families have been trapped in sorely underfunded public schools. The conventional wisdom suggests that school funding remains unequal across low- and high-income schools and that equal funding equates to equitable resources for students. This brief challenges the notion that economically disadvantaged students receive less funding than other students, with implications for equalizing classroom resources and optimizing other social policies.

Think Again: Do Charter Schools Drain Resources From Traditional Public Schools?

Source: Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Reviewed by: Huriya Jabbar, University of Texas at Austin

The report references most of the relevant literature and fairly assesses the evidence. However, it makes claims and policy recommendations that are untested empirically and unwarranted based on the research. For example, it concludes that districts' higher expenditures in a charter environment are due to policies protecting traditional public schools from revenue fluctuations caused by charter competition. In doing so, it fails to consider other possible explanations, such as charters strategically enrolling relatively few students who are particularly costly to educate.

DeSantis Vows to Eliminate Department of Education or Use It to Wage War on Woke

By: Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani, The New Republic

DeSantis has been using Florida as his own personal laboratory, testing all manner of extreme policies targeting the most marginalized in his state. And now he’s making it clear: If he becomes president, he’ll take his fanatical vision nationwide.

Here’s what schools should know about the growing CROWN Act

By: Anna Merod, K-12 Dive

Now in 23 states, the movement aims to prohibit school grooming or dress policies that discriminate based on hair texture and type.

Gen Z values education - but doesn’t think a 4-year degree is the only option

By: Laura Spitalniak, K-12 Dive

The current cohort of high school students, part of Generation Z, values postsecondary education but is increasingly interested in alternatives to four-year colleges, according to a new report from ECMC Group, a nonprofit focused on student success, and Vice Media.

Funding Community Schools in California

By: Dion Burns Michael Griffith Anna Maier, Learning Policy Institute

In the past 2 years, California has made significant investments to support the expansion of community schools statewide, including $4.1 billion to establish the California Community Schools Partnership Grant Program. In addition to leveraging new state funds, sustainably financing a community schools strategy may also involve blending and braiding local, state, and federal funding sources. This brief provides an overview of some state and federal funding sources that may be used to support a community schools approach in California.

Fostering Belonging, Transforming Schools: The Impact of Restorative Practices

By: Sean Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute

Because [restorative] practices address root causes of student misbehavior while reducing exclusionary approaches, they have the potential to ameliorate racial disparities while enhancing school climates, academic engagement, and academic performance.

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