79.010 - Rethinking the Resource Discourse

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

School finance discussions have largely been shaped by litigation dating back to 1989 and the so-called Third Wave of finance litigation. Plaintiffs set aside equality and equal-protection arguments and embraced adequacy arguments, alleging that states failed to provide a minimally adequate education as required by education clauses in their respective state constitutions. While this approach has met with some success in courts and has, in fact, driven funding improvements that then drove improvements in outcomes, the approach is also self-limiting because the legal argument sought only a minimum—a floor. “Adequacy” was never adequate to yield equality. It’s important, then, that these legal arguments be decoupled from political discourse, which should seek much more. Put in terms of the AERA theme, our discourse around school finance has been limited and misleading; research evidence should inform a much richer and honest discussion. This interactive session will help us take a step back, so that we can then move forward to move to a more honest and fruitful discussion around resource needs of children, youth, families and communities. The diverse group of scholars and leaders will present multimodal narratives grounded in visual representations, particularly infographics, to center a conversation with the audience about how to promote a more ambitious and truthful debate about resource needs.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chair

• Sarah Elizabeth LaCour, University of Colorado - Boulder

Participants

• Robert Kim, Rutgers University

• Jennifer K. Rice, University of Maryland

• John Jackson, Schott Foundation

• Kevin G. Welner, University of Colorado Boulder