Analyzing the Distribution of Qualified School Construction Bonds Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

• In Event: Leadership, Policy, and Politics

Abstract

The study will compare the distribution of Qualified School Construction Bonds in 2009 and 2010 provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with regard to equity across local education agencies in Michigan and Ohio. These states were chosen because the demographics are fairly similar, the QSCB allocations were about equal, and both states have LEAs that generally align with municipalities and have some control over school capital assets by virtue of their ability to raise taxes for the construction and renovation of facilities. The states differ, however, in that Michigan has left school facility funding to the voters directly and Ohio has created the Ohio School Facilities Commission in order to equalize the quality of facilities across districts.

Author

• Thomas Edward Davis, University of Maryland