Interest in the topic of unequal funding for public schools is widespread in America. Although they may not know about the extent or specific effects of funding inequities in our country, most Americans believe that students do better in well-funded schools and that public education should provide a “level playing field” for all children. However, nearly half of funding for public schools is provided through local taxes in our country, and this means that large differences in funding have long persisted between wealthy and impoverished American communities. Efforts to reduce these disparities have surfaced at both federal and state levels, but these efforts have provoked controversy and have been resisted by many.

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Facts

Better-funded schools are often able to reduce class sizes, and smaller class seem also to generate better achievement among students

·     Better funded school districts, schools within those districts, and classrooms within those schools seem to be able to attract teachers with higher levels of education, more experience, and higher scores on competency tests; these teachers in turn help to generate better achievement scores among students.

·     [Our analysis shows] that school resources are systematically related to student achievement and that those relations are large [and] educationally important.
From http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/pp-03-01.pdf)

What schools get the most through unequal funding?

Through most income taxes, more money is being directed towards wealthier school districts whereas poorer school districts are taking a hit to school funding which in turn is hurting the schools and the children.

What are the problems with unequal funding?

As mentioned above, people believe education should provide a “level playing field” for all children. With unequal funding, some schools are receiving less funding than other schools. With less funding coming into the schools cuts will be seen in adequate or necessary resources when in fact it is these schools that usually need the resources the most.

“All State constitutions require that public schools be provided, often with the proviso that they be “equal”, “adequate”, or “efficient.” The ability of states to reach these goals depends upon school finance mechanisms designed to promote equality, adequacy, and efficiency.”  (from http://www.futureofchildren.org/usr_doc/vol7no3ART3.pdf)

According to the above quote, states are supposed to provide equal funding however many states allocate more money to wealthier schools and less money to poorer schools which defies the equality factor.

How can states provide funding?

Income tax – a portion of your income is saved for school funding

Property tax – paying taxes on the property you own

Sales tax – a portion of all sales will be directed towards school funding

Cigarette tax – every box of cigarettes purchased a profit goes to school funding; authorized by district

Liquor or beer tax – portion of every case or bottle bought goes to school funding; authorized by district

Bed tax – local tax on hotel stays; authorized by district

How can states fix the problem of unequal funding?

State taxes would still be used (income, property, sales) but all of the money would be distributed equally between the school districts and any leftover money would be allocated to the poorer school districts. Any additional funding districts my want can be earned on a individual district basis opposed to additional state funding.