Equalize Student Achievement: Prioritizing Money and Power

Whether you have a casual interest in the politics of education funding or are an expert in school finance seeking a comprehensive and highly readable, up-to-date analysis, this text is for you. By combining a thorough, entertaining, and rich history of our nation's various approaches to paying for public education with a detailed explication of current school funding structures, Wong and Casing provide readers with the knowledge and context needed to understand both the technical aspects of education funding and the way funding for schools impacts everything from economic opportunity to racial and social justice. Brilliant! -- Ralph M. Martire, executive director, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability The major education issue today is how limited school funding impacts student achievement. As a concerned citizen and parent, understanding the complex funding allocation policies is the first step of change through your right to vote in determining the fate of your community's education system. How, why, and where shrinking resources should be directed to maximize the return on student achievement are a few questions that are answered in this informative, well-written, and easy-to-understand book. -- Irwin Fong, controller, Cancer Treatment Center of America From the historical perspective to the currently prevailing means for supporting today's schools, this book is informative without being cumbersome or verbose. The views expressed are supported by examples and charts that explain and support the conclusions of the authors. The book cleverly weaves the reader's ability to relate the information to their own personal lives and experiences. -- Elizabeth Scott, supervisor of student teachers, Toura University Nevada; retired administrator, Clark County School District, Nevada Wow! Finally a book about school finance that is readable and understandable. The authors have skillfully taken a dry and complex subject and made it appealing and relevant. This is school finance 101 for everyone! -- Terry McFadden, past school board president, Troy Elementary School District, Shorewood, Illinois A public investment in economics and educational philosophy, this book is a must-read for all educational leaders, parents, and community members destined to be on the cutting edge of improving student achievement. -- Randal Eckart, chief school administrator, Minneapolis, MN Sometimes it seems that the concepts of social justice, political philosophy and school finance in worlds independent of each other. This volume by Ovid Wong and Daniel Casing systematically links these concerns in a clear and objective way so that the interested reader clearly sees how school finance is connected to school outcomes. We are now in both a fiscal and educational crisis. To meet the challenges of the years ahead the schools must be able produce more and better educated graduates so that the US can maintain its place among the advanced nations. Money must be spent equitably and wisely to achieve a positive outcome. This book is a practical guide for all people who seek to improve our system of education. -- Alan Dorr, dean, College of Education and Health Services, Benedictine University Written in plain language for community members, parents, school leaders, and school board members, this book explains where school funding comes from and how a school budget is developed, and discusses related issues of equity and adequacy. Many of the book's examples and comparisons come from real situations in Illinois schools. The book begins with a history of publicly supported education and a look at the foundations of current state and national policies on educational opportunity. Landmark cases are reviewed to illustrate recent research on the relationship between student achievement, socioeconomic status, teacher qualifications, and federal and state policies impacting the funding of schools. The book concludes with recommendations for equitable funding. * Book News, Inc. *