Publisher's Synopsis
This book is a collection of Author's personal views, essays, and notes on the current state of financing in American education. It contains the basics and is intended primarily for Ed.D. students as a summary of main points and issues. It loosely follows Brimley, Verstegen, and Garfield's Financing Education in a Climate of Change (12th ed.), and Odden and Picus' School Finance (2014), incorporating a host of other sources, with a special focus on California.Much has been written and said about financing education. It is a complex and intricate field, which is even more complicated by the fact that states and even districts and schools themselves apply different formulas and factors. Districts seek expanded resources, and all this happens on the backdrop of collective bargaining agreements and under various political pressures.California is now 21st in the National education ranking, significantly advanced from 41st place in 2000 and 36th place just a few years ago. Nationally, the most recent data indicates $11,762 is spent on public education per student. Significant variations exist across states: New York spends more than $20,000 per student, while states like Utah and Idaho report spending about a third as much (Governing, 2019). California spends $11,495 per pupil. This sum does not include administrative and other spending, which amounts to the total of $72,641,244, which is the highest in the country (Id.).There are no easy solutions - but, in order for us to contribute and be able to husband our resources, we must first learn about their current state and distribution. I would therefore suggest that it is not only the Ed.D. students that should peruse this book, but also the Sacramento legislators, who often rule over the school funds with an iron fist and assume that whomever they lend their lobbying ear to, has the best in mind for the students. Where education is concerned, we must never assume. We may assess, ascertain, and analyze; then go and improve upon what we are doing.
