Where Do School Funds Go?

Educational Economics: Where Do School Funds Go? (Urban Institute Press)

by Marguerite Roza

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1292 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Print length	:	126 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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An Urban Institute Press Report

This report examines how school funds are allocated and spent in the United States. The report finds that the majority of school funds are spent on teacher salaries and benefits, but that there is a wide variation in per-pupil spending across districts. The report also finds that school funding is often inequitable, with students in low-income districts receiving less funding than students in high-income districts.

How School Funds Are Allocated

School funds are allocated by state and local governments. The amount of funding that a school district receives is determined by a variety of factors, including the district's size, the number of students enrolled in the district, and the district's property values. In most states, the majority of school funding comes from local property taxes. However, some states also provide state funding for schools, and the federal government provides funding for certain programs, such as special education and Title I.

How School Funds Are Spent

The majority of school funds are spent on teacher salaries and benefits. Other major expenses include textbooks and other instructional materials, supplies, and utilities. School districts also spend money on capital projects, such as new buildings and renovations.

Variation in Per-Pupil Spending

There is a wide variation in per-pupil spending across school districts in the United States. In the 2019-2020 school year, the average per-pupil spending was $12,736. However, per-pupil spending ranged from $6,825 in Mississippi to $22,479 in New York.

This variation in per-pupil spending is due to a number of factors, including the cost of living in the district, the number of students in the district, and the district's property values. Districts in high-cost areas tend to have higher per-pupil spending than districts in low-cost areas. Districts with a large number of students tend to have lower per-pupil spending than districts with a small number of students. And districts with high property values tend to have higher per-pupil spending than districts with low property values.

Inequity in School Funding

School funding is often inequitable, with students in low-income districts receiving less funding than students in high-income districts. This is due to the fact that school funding is largely based on local property taxes. As a result, districts in wealthy areas tend to have more resources than districts in poor areas.

This inequity in school funding has a number of negative consequences. Students in low-income districts are more likely to attend schools with overcrowded classrooms, outdated textbooks, and poorly trained teachers. They are also more likely to live in areas with high crime rates and environmental hazards.

The way that school funds are allocated and spent has a significant impact on the quality of education that students receive. The wide variation in per-pupil spending and the inequity in school funding are two major challenges that need to be addressed in order to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.

Educational Economics: Where Do School Funds Go? (Urban Institute Press)

by Marguerite Roza

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1292 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Print length	:	126 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE