An undetected thief lurks in America's classrooms: funding for public education. Dynamic instruction, robust learning, and student futures are stolen when funding for public education is inadequate and inequitable. The devastating impact of this thievery is examined throughout this book. Student engagement with the potential and promise of traditional public education is stolen by funding formulas crafted by state legislatures. Theft in the classroom results when these funding schemes misdirect and disconnect the resources required to educate all US students. Called upon to deal with an ever-changing cascade of mandates, standards, legislation, and counterproductive testing marathons, but provided with funding so inadequate that instruction is often little better than anemic "test prep," public educators in pursuit of the common good are robbed by insufficient funding. Although funding for public education is a topic unlikely to command frequent public discussion, no topic is more consequential for achievement, adequacy, and social justice in the learning, lives, and futures of America's children and young people.

Jeff Swensson served in traditional public education across the Midwest as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent for 45 years. He graduated from Amherst College, received his MAT from Northwestern University, and earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University.

Lynn Lehman served in public schools and universities in Indiana as a teacher, assistant, principal, principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent, university lecturer, and assistant professor for 50 years. He earned BS, MAT, Ed.S, and Ed.D. degrees from Indiana University.

John Ellis served public education across Indiana as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents for more than 43 years. He graduated from Ball State University with a BA in education and a Master's in Education before earning his Ph.D. from Indiana State University.

Preface

Introduction

ONEDollars and Sense: The Basics of Public School Funding for Educational Programs

TWOGrab Bag Funding: Promises, Problems, and Prizes

THREEA Case Study: Weeds in Indiana's School Funding Field

FOURWhat Does School Funding Pay For?

FIVEAre We Really Paying for What We Get?

SIXPublic Education Is a Test

SEVENThe Magic and the Consequences of School Funding

EIGHTThe Thief in the Classroom

NINEFunding for Public Education: Is There a Bottom Line?

TENTo Catch a Thief

References

Index