Fossil Fuels and School Funding: States, Schools, and the Oil and Gas Beneath the Surface

• In Event: School Finance Policy, Equity, and Resource Allocation: Evidence From K–12 and Higher Education

Abstract

This study focuses on the top ten oil and/or gas producing states (n=13). Three research questions guide the study: 1. Across these states what forms of oil and gas revenue are consistently distributed to public schools? 2. Does oil and gas revenue factor into these states’ school funding models and/or impact the local capacity to fund schools? 3. If the nation committed to transition away from oil and gas, how might this impact state and local funding capacities across these states? Through framework analysis I explored, identified, and indexed the qualitative data that depicts the financial relationship between the oil and gas industry and the public schools across states, then developed a priori framework to guide analysis and interpretations.

Author

• Jacqueline Yahn, Ohio University - Eastern