What does “adequacy” mean in the context of school funding?
Imagine that you have decided to build a new home. You know that you want high-quality workmanship, reliable and safe plumbing and electrical fixtures, a certain number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square feet. Then you tell the contractor you will pay only $50,000 for the construction of the home. That’s how schools are funded in Colorado. We’ve set high standards of achievement for our children and our schools—as well we should. But the amount we give our districts bears no relation to the actual cost of ensuring that all our children—including those with disabilities, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those whose first language is not English—meet those standards. In the real world, it doesn’t work that way. Once you have provided the specifications, a contractor will cost out the materials and labor and provide a bid that approximates the actual cost of building the home. That’s what “adequacy” is all about in school finance. We wouldn’t decide on a price for building a house
Related Questions
- Why hasn Alamedas School District done something to address the funding inequities that mean Alameda gets less state funding than other school districts?
- Why hasn AUSD done something to address the funding inequities that mean Alameda gets less money per pupil than other school districts?
- What does "adequacy" mean in the context of school funding?
