Follow the Money: Who Spends and Who Gains Under the Common Core?

• In Event: Equity, School Finance, and Educational Reform

Abstract

Using document analysis of approximately 150 grants from private foundations, this paper examines how funding for the Common Core has been used directly to support local school districts or indirectly to support various service providers, who in turn are to enable the Common Core’s implementation. It also sought to understand how resources to the districts are recycled to service providers. By following the money spent on the Common Core reform, our study helps to gauge how the reform influences equity in schools and who the reform might ultimately benefit. Results indicate funding has largely gone to indirect efforts, not to schools. Funding of the reform appears to not undo differences across zip codes and in cases, may exacerbate them.

Authors

• Mindy L. Kornhaber, The Pennsylvania State University

• Nikolaus Barkauskas, The Pennsylvania State University

• Kelly Griffith, The Pennsylvania State University