Financing Education Discussion

Financing Education

Michael Gismondi

​How are schools funded?

• ​ The state contributes about 47%

  • ​Income, Sales, other Fees

• ​ Local contribute to about 45%

  • ​Property tax

• ​ Roughly 8% from Federal

​Position 1: Equitable Educational Spending is a Matter of Justice

• ​Argues that schools in more privileged areas with higher socioeconomic status have access to significantly more funding than underprivileged schools in areas of lower socioeconomic status.

​

• ​Argues it is the government's job, at a federal or state level, to "unequally" distribute the funds according to areas of need.

​Position 2: Privileged Spending is Necessary in a Free Market Economy

• ​Makes the same socioeconomic points.

• ​Asserts a need for this discrepancy to fuel free market and capitalism ideology citing issues like the housing market, taxes, and a dislike of centralization.

Padlet Gallery Walk

https://padlet.com/michaelgismondi1/ngb80w7e1tgjgdti​

​An Adequate Public Education

is one that prepares students to be capable voters and jurors and to be able to compete effectively in the economy.

Requirements:

• ​Oral fluency in English

• Mathematical and Scientific knowledge

• Fundamental understanding of geography, history, and political and economic systems

• Critical thinking skills

• Social and communication skills

• Sufficient intellectual or vocational skills to move forward in educational or employment settings.

Poll

I believe my district has enough money to afford adequate public education for its students.

• Strongly Disagree

• Disagree

• Agree

• Strongly Agree

​Information obtained from...

https://nces.ed.gov/

​Southmoreland School District

Connellsville Area School District

​Southmoreland

• ​Total Revenue/student

  • ​$19,383

• Total Expenditures/student

  • ​$21,847

​Connellsville

• ​Total Revenue/student

  • ​$16,279

• Total Expenditures/student

  • ​$16,400

Poll

I believe my district allocates too much of their funds to different areas that do not directly involve student academic achievement.

• Strongly Disagree

• Disagree

• Agree

• Strongly Agree

Some of the common complaints about school funding...

​Use the textbox feature to type your answers on this slide.

Poll

Which side of the argument would you more align with? (This is anonymous)

• Equitable Educational Spending is a Matter of Justice

• Privileged Spending is Necessary in a Free Market Economy

​This or That Debate