Ample funding for all: fiscal effects of advancing school funding equity in Washington

• In Event: Examining the equity implications of school fiscal and physical resources and constraints

Abstract

In 2012, the McCleary case ruling by Washington’s Supreme Court significantly centralized school funding to re-equalize basic education access for all students. To understand the impact of the reform on school district finance and equity, we examine changes in Washington school district revenues over 2004-2021. We document that the reform increased total district resources and the share of state funding for all districts rather than for disadvantaged districts alone. We also observe a decline in the use of local non-property tax revenues by districts. Funding equity improvements in Washington were achieved not only through revenue assistance to the poorest districts but also through the flattening of revenues in the top quartile of the school districts.

Authors

• Olha Krupa, Seattle University
  Presenting Author

• Eugenia Gorina, University of Texas, Dallas
  Non-Presenting Co-Author