Financing and Governing America's Schools

Most school board members are (choose only one.)

• White, male, and middle or upper class.

• Middle-class women, about half of whom have been or are teachers.

• Middle of the road politically, about evenly divided between men and women, and representing all socioeconomic classes.

• So diverse politically, economically, and socially that it is impossible to make generalizations.

State school boards and chief state school officers are

• Elected by the people.

• Elected by the people's representatives.

• Appointed by the governor.

• Appointed by officials other than the governor.

• All of the above.

Is public school equitable?

• True; all schools get the same amount of money
• False; schools receive money based on property taxes

Durning the past two decades, the influence of local school boards has

• Increased.

• Decreased.

• Remained unchanged.

Local school district superintendents are (Select all that apply.)

• Often mediating conflicts.

• Civil service-type administrators.

• Elected officials.

• Sometimes powerless figureheads.

In most schools, teachers are expected to

• Design the policies guiding their schools.

• Collaborate with the principals and district officials to create policies to suit their schools.

• Comply with policies made by principals and by the district and state officials.

• Comply with policies that seem appropriate and change those that do not.

The influence of the business community in U.S. schools can best be characterized as

• Virtually nonexistent.

• Felt only in vocational and commercial programs.

• Extensive and growing.

• Usually illegal.

Schools are funded by which of the following?

• Local Taxes
• State Funding
• Federal Funding
• All of the above

Who might be considered part of the "hidden school government"? (You may choose more than one.)

• The school principal.

• The state school superintendent.

• The school secretary.

• Parents.

• The U.S. secretary of education.

This group of elected people sets policies and makes decisions about how schools within the district should be run. It works with school administration to set the vision for the school district.

• school board
• legislature
• district superintendent
• school administration