What is adequate funding for public education? What is enough? What does enough buy? Does adequate funding result in improvements in student achievement? What is the difference between equity and adequate models of funding?

Equity funding assumes that an equal amount of money is spent on every student. In contrast, adequate funding assumes that each school receives the funds necessary for each of its students to succeed.   Increasingly, questions about funding for adequacy are driving public school financing decisions. The Council of the Great City Schools’ 2005 report, Review of Finance and Budget Operations of the DC Public Schools: Financing Excellence in the DC Public Schools, applied an adequacy model to determine the adequate level of funding for the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Currently, there are four commonly referenced “adequacy” approaches in education finance. The Successful School District approach focuses on spending levels in districts that have fulfilled state expectations and determines the differences in how unsuccessful districts and successful districts spend their funds. The Professional Judgment model relies on the expertise of professional educators to identify the resources needed in a “prototype” school that will enable students to meet the state’s proficiency standards. The Cost Function approach attempts to estimate how much money would be needed to attain a certain level of student performance, while controlling for the characteristics of the district and its students. The Evidence-based model is tied to the research-based ingredients required to deliver a high quality, comprehensive instructional program.

This policy forum focused on public education finance and adequacy-based school funding.  

Panelists included:

• Jane Hannaway, Director, Education Policy Center, Urban Institute
• Molly Hunter, Director, National Access Network, Campaign for Educational Equity, Teachers College, Columbia University
• Mary Levy, Project Director, Public Education Reform Project, Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights

• Speaker Bios*    
• Molly Hunter's Presentation*
• Jane Hannaway's Presentation*    
• Annotated Bibliography*