Inequalities in the Private Funding of Public Schools: Parent Financial Contributions and School Socioeconomic Status

• In Event: Papers and Money: How Parental Financial Contributions and Student Legal Status Influence Outcomes

Abstract

Parent involvement in their child’s schooling is routinely celebrated in government education policy in many countries. We take a critical lens to examining parent involvement by investigating voluntary parent fees in public high schools, and how these fees are patterned by school socioeconomic status (SES). In Australia, where this study is located, public schools may request ‘voluntary’ fees from parents to enhance education programs and facilities. To date, however, research has yet to examine inequalities in parent funding between public schools. Our findings show large inequalities between public schools, with high SES schools enjoying up to four times more parent generated income than lower SES schools. These findings suggest that parent financial contributions are a form of structural inequality.

Authors

• Emma E. Rowe, Deakin University

• Laura Perry, Murdoch University