Educational Inequality and School Finance

In Educational Inequality and School Finance, Bruce D. Baker examines the popular assumptions that undergird the policy discourse around school funding--notably, that money doesn't matter and that we are spending more and getting less. Drawing on extensive data and research, he shows how these misunderstandings contribute to our reluctance to increase investment in education at a time when the demands on our educational system are rising. Baker presents a framework for designing and financing an equitable and adequate public education system, with balanced and stable sources of revenue. "In this significant contribution to our understanding of school finance, Bruce Baker draws on his many years of research to destroy the myth that money in education doesn't matter, and convincingly argues that equitable and adequate funding are prerequisites for an effective education system. Filled with descriptive tables and graphs, as well as careful analysis of specific claims, the book provides a solid grounding in the conceptual and technical issues related to school funding. It should be in the hands of all state education policy makers, education reporters, and anyone who seriously cares about inequality in public education." --Helen F. Ladd, Susan B. King Professor Emerita of Public Policy and Economics, Sanford School, Duke University "This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about public education. Baker presents compelling evidence that challenges conventional assumptions and assertions that school spending doesn't matter. His analysis reveals that school spending is, in fact, related to educational resources and outcomes, and offers a set of concrete policy recommendations for improving educational opportunities and, ultimately, promoting a more equitable and just society." --Jennifer King Rice, dean and professor, College of Education, University of Maryland Bruce D. Baker is a professor in the Department of Educational Theory, Policy, and Administration at Rutgers Graduate School of Education.