Policy Perspectives on State Elementary and Secondary Public Education Finance Systems in the United States

Kansas State University, College of Education. Available from: New Prairie Press. Kansas State University Libraries, 1117 Mid-Campus Drive North, Manhattan, KS 66506. Tel: 785-532-7444; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations/

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8

Public Education; Elementary Secondary Education; State Policy; Funding Formulas; State Surveys; State Programs; Educational Finance; Educational Facilities; Student Transportation; Systems Analysis; Educational Practices; Resource Allocation

The purpose of this article is to describe and compare individual state funding systems for public elementary and secondary education in the United States. States' major education funding systems are described as well as funding mechanisms for students with disabilities; English language learners (ELL); gifted and talented students; and low income or "at-risk" students, the latter more broadly defined as those who are at risk of dropping out of school. Third is a description of state funding for vocational, career, and technical education programs, an area that is of particular importance to students who do not plan to pursue postsecondary education. Fourth are funding programs that are generally, but not always, outside the state's major funding system that are district-based. These include state funding related to sparsity and density factors; transportation costs; and infrastructure-related expenses for capital outlay and associated debt. The research reported in this article was based upon a 50-state survey of chief education officers with regard to their respective state's funding system for public elementary and secondary education for the 2014-2015 academic year. As a result, this article presents a comprehensive view of formulas and other mechanisms states employ to fund PK-12 education at present.

ERIC

2016

EJ1106271