70 Questions
Why is it mentioned that the Comparable Wage Index for Teachers was used in the analysis?
To adjust revenue data for regional differences in labor costs
What adjustment was made to the revenue data to ensure accurate comparisons between districts?
Excluding capital outlay expenditures
Based on the text, why are findings from this analysis not directly comparable to previous analyses in some states?
Mainly because charter schools are concentrated differently
What key issue does the text highlight regarding state and local funding for districts with high numbers of students of color?
They receive considerably less funding than districts with fewer students of color
What is the potential impact of the funding gap highlighted in the text for a district with 5,000 students?
$13.5 million less resources
Why does the text emphasize the need for additional state and local funding for districts serving students of color and those from low-income families?
To provide expert-recommended smaller student-to-school-counselor ratios
What aspect of systemic racism does the text link to the long-standing issue of fair school funding for students of color?
Legacy of housing discrimination
Which adjustment was NOT mentioned as part of calculating differences in revenue between high-need and low-need districts?
What did the analysis do after sorting all districts by certain student percentages?
Divided districts into four groups (quartiles)
Why does the text mention that charter school payments were reallocated?
To ensure accurate comparisons between districts
What is one of the key recommendations for addressing disparities in state school funding systems?
Making sure districts with the most students of color receive funding at least equal to those with the fewest students of color
Why are multilingual learners highlighted as an important group in the discussion on school funding disparities?
Their needs for resources, including bilingual educators, are often not met due to funding disparities
What percentage less state and local revenue do districts with the most English learners receive compared to those with the fewest English learners?
14%
Why is it stated that 'equal funding should not be the goal'?
Equal funding does not address resource needs in high-poverty districts
In how many states do districts serving the most English learners receive less state and local funding than those serving the fewest?
25 states
What could high-poverty schools do with an additional $800 per student?
Hire three more teachers
Why is it mentioned that districts with higher needs receive $2,200 less per student compared to those with lower needs?
To illustrate the funding disparities faced by high-needs districts
'Almost 12 million children ages 5 to 17 speak a language other than English at home' - Why is this statistic relevant in discussing educational funding disparities?
'Almost 12 million children' signifies a significant group of students needing additional resources
What percentage more state and local funding do high-poverty districts receive in nine states compared to districts with lower poverty rates?
10%
Why is it noted that research shows students from low-income backgrounds benefit more from additional funding?
To highlight the positive impact of additional resources on low-income students
What impact can sustained and significant increases in school funding have?
A lasting positive impact on student achievement, especially for low-income students
What is the main issue with the U.S. education system, as mentioned in the text?
The majority of states send the fewest resources to districts that need the most resources
How much funding was infused into state school funding coffers by the federal government due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Nearly $200 billion
What funding formula was used to allocate the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds?
The most progressive funding formula at its disposal Title I
What was the result of using the Title I funding formula for the ARP funds?
Higher-poverty districts received substantially more funding than lower-need districts
What do state leaders need to address, according to the text?
The systemic, longstanding inequities in school funding systems
Which group of students tends to have the largest funding gap between high-need and low-need districts?
English learners
What is the main reason that the larger funding gaps for districts with high concentrations of English learners and students of color are particularly problematic?
All of the above
Which statement best describes the relationship between state funding policies and inequities in local funding?
State funding is not allocated in a way that fully counteracts inequities in local funding, particularly for districts serving high concentrations of English learners and students of color
Which of the following is an example of a state that is doing better than others in ensuring high-need districts receive more funding?
Maryland and Minnesota
What is an example of a state where state and local funding is not well targeted to districts with the most English learners or students of color, even though it is more targeted to higher-poverty districts?
California
Which of the following best describes the relationship between state funding policies and inequities in local funding for different student groups?
State funding policies that target funds to high-poverty districts do not necessarily target funds to districts with high percentages of students of color or English learners
What is the key takeaway from the finding that state revenue is not allocated in a way that fully counteracts inequities in local funding?
State funding is not sufficient to address inequities in local funding, particularly for districts serving high concentrations of English learners and students of color
Which of the following is an example of a state that consistently underfunds districts with higher percentages of students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, or English learners?
Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas
What is the main reason that state funding policies are important in addressing inequities in school funding?
State funding policies can be used to counteract inequities in local funding between high-need and low-need districts
What is the key difference between the funding gaps for districts serving high concentrations of students from low-income backgrounds compared to districts serving high concentrations of English learners and students of color?
The funding gaps are larger for districts serving high concentrations of English learners and students of color
How much additional funding should states provide for students from low-income families compared to students from higher-income families?
100-200% more funding
Which of the following statements is true about the current funding systems in states for students from low-income backgrounds?
Nearly all states provide less than 50% more funding for low-income students.
What does the text recommend regarding additional funding for English learners?
Provide 100-150% more funding for English learners.
Which of the following statements is true about the current funding systems in states for English learners?
Almost all states fall short of the recommended 100-150% more funding.
How does the text recommend funding for students with disabilities?
Provide additional funding based on the unique needs of each student.
If a student meets multiple categories of need (e.g., low-income and English learner), how should the additional funding be calculated according to the text?
Provide the sum of the additional funding percentages for each category.
Which state currently provides close to twice as much funding for students from low-income backgrounds?
Both Maryland and Massachusetts
Which state is mentioned as providing 2.5 times as much funding for English learners?
Georgia
Which of the following statements is true about how states currently fund students with disabilities?
States tend to provide substantially more funding based on the level of support needed.
What does the text suggest is the issue with providing equal funding for all districts, regardless of the socioeconomic status of the students they serve?
It fails to account for the additional resources needed to support students from low-income backgrounds.
According to the report, what is the average difference in state and local revenue between districts with the most students of color and those with the fewest?
Districts with the most students of color receive 16% less revenue
What is one of the key findings regarding funding for districts with the most English learners?
They receive 14% less state and local revenue than districts with the fewest English learners
According to the analysis, how do funding patterns vary across different states?
State-by-state data shows a more nuanced picture, with some states allocating revenue progressively and others not
What factor does the report highlight as contributing to funding inequities in many states?
State revenue is not allocated in a way that fully counteracts inequities in local funding
According to the report, what is necessary to ensure that all students have fair access to resources and support in school?
Providing more funding to meet the needs of underserved students, such as those from low-income backgrounds and English learners
According to the analysis, what is the difference in state and local revenue between high-poverty and low-poverty districts across the country?
High-poverty districts receive 5% less revenue than low-poverty districts
What does the report suggest is needed to achieve school funding equity?
More funding for districts with higher concentrations of underserved students
What is the purpose of the new interactive data tool mentioned in the report?
To drill down to district and school-level funding data, revealing persistent inequities
According to the report, what resources do state and district leaders need to ensure all students have fair access to?
Strong teachers with diverse backgrounds, rigorous coursework, and supportive school environments
What does the report suggest is needed in addition to the findings and recommendations presented?
Additional resources, such as the FundEd website and EdBuild's policy options, provide a clear roadmap for creating equitable funding policies
What should state leaders do to ensure fair and equitable funding of education?
Ensure state revenue fully makes up the difference between what districts need and what they can raise locally, based on their funding model (progressive, flat, or regressive)
What is the primary source of education funding in the United States?
State governments
What should state leaders do to address inequities in local sources of education funds?
Require localities to fully fund an expected local share of education funding based on their ability to raise revenue
What role does the federal government play in funding education?
The federal government plays a small but important role in funding education
What should future proposals to improve federal fiscal equity in education ensure?
That school funding adequately meets student needs and is targeted to the states, districts, and schools that need the most resources
What is the main goal of state leaders in ensuring fair and equitable education funding?
To ensure that all students have the resources they need to thrive
According to the passage, which of the following is true about the relationship between local funding and the percentage of students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, or students learning English in a district?
Local funding is regressive between high- and low-poverty districts in most states, and state funding is not enough to make up for these inequities.
What is the main reason that local revenue is inherently inequitable according to the passage?
All of the above
According to the passage, which of the following is a key feature of an equitable state and local funding system?
State and local funding should be allocated so that higher-need districts serving more students from low-income backgrounds and English learners receive more funding, and that districts serving the most students of color do not receive less funding.
According to the passage, which of the following states consistently show up in the list of states where state funding is progressive, but not progressive enough to counteract gaps in local funding between districts with high and low percentages of students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, or English learners?
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Texas
What is the main reason, according to the passage, that it is important to understand what the data says about funding inequities and the specific policies that could address those inequities?
It helps advocates work toward achieving the policy recommendations noted in the passage that align with challenges in specific states.
According to the passage, which of the following is a key feature of an equitable state and local funding system?
States should send more funding to districts that have less ability to raise local revenue, and states should limit property-wealthy districts' ability to create new inequities through exorbitant amounts of additional local funds.
What does the passage suggest is a potential solution to address the inequities in local funding between high- and low-poverty districts, districts with high and low percentages of students of color, and districts with high and low percentages of English learners?
Providing additional state funding to high-need districts to counteract the inequities in local funding.
According to the passage, which of the following is a reason why local funding is inherently inequitable?
All of the above
Study Notes
Funding Inequities in Education
- In the US, districts with the most students of color receive 16% less state and local revenue than districts with the fewest students of color, resulting in a funding gap of $2,700 per student.
- This funding gap translates to a loss of $13.5 million in resources for a district with 5,000 students.
- 22 states have districts serving the most students of color receiving less state and local revenue than districts serving the fewest students of color.
Disparities in Funding for English Learners
- Districts with the most English learners receive 14% less state and local revenue, resulting in a funding gap of $2,200 per student.
- 25 out of 41 states have districts serving the most English learners receiving less state and local funding than districts serving the fewest English learners.
- Only two states, Missouri and Colorado, have districts with the most English learners receiving more state and local funding than districts with the fewest English learners.
Funding Inequities in High-Poverty Districts
- High-poverty districts receive 5% less state and local revenue than low-poverty districts, resulting in a funding gap of $800 per student.
- 37 states have districts serving the highest concentrations of students from low-income backgrounds receiving less funding than their more affluent counterparts.
- Nine states have high-poverty districts receiving more state and local funding than districts with lower poverty rates.
State and Local Funding Systems
- Equitable funding systems should allocate more funding to higher-need districts serving more students from low-income backgrounds, English learners, and students with disabilities.
- State leaders should provide more funding to high-need districts than to property-rich, lower-need districts.
- States should ensure that the funding allocated is adequate to support a rigorous, high-quality education program for all students, particularly English learners, students from low-income backgrounds, and students of color.### Importance of Proper School Funding
- Research shows that a significant increase in school funding can have a lasting positive impact on student achievement, especially for students from low-income backgrounds.
Inequities in School Funding
- The U.S. education system is plagued with persistent funding inequities, with most states sending the fewest resources to districts and schools that need them the most.
- Millions of students are not getting the proper resources they need to succeed.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP)
- The ARP infused nearly $200 billion into state school funding coffers, with higher-poverty districts receiving substantially more funding than lower-need districts.
The Education Trust Reports
- The Education Trust has been analyzing school finance data for over 20 years, finding "devastatingly large" gaps in revenue between high- and low-poverty districts in states and between districts serving the most and fewest students of color.
- The Funding Gaps 2018 report found significant gaps in some states, but also that many states defy these patterns, proving that inequities are not inevitable.
Key Findings
- Districts with the most students of color receive 16% less state and local revenue than districts with the fewest students of color.
- High-poverty districts receive 5% less state and local revenue than low-poverty districts.
- Districts with the most English learners receive 14% less state and local revenue than districts with the fewest English learners.
Addressing Inequities
- States need to address systemic, longstanding inequities in school funding systems to ensure that the "fiscal cliff" does not impose the most disruption in high-need communities.
- School funding systems should provide more funding to meet the needs of underserved students, such as students from low-income backgrounds and English learners.
State and District Leaders' Responsibilities
- State and district leaders need to ensure that all students have fair access to resources, including strong teachers, rigorous coursework, and safe school environments.
- States and districts have a long way to go to achieve school funding equity.
Federal Considerations
- Education funding comes from a combination of federal, state, and local funds, with the majority (about 90%) coming from states and localities.
- The federal government plays an important role in funding education, and proposals to improve federal fiscal equity should ensure that school funding adequately meets student needs.
Test your knowledge about the impact of school funding on student achievement and outcomes, especially for students from low-income backgrounds. Explore the challenges and inequities in the U.S. education system when it comes to allocating resources to districts and schools.
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