Center For American Progress
Published: September 8, 2006
Fund the Child: A Debate on Weighted Student
Formulas
Today at the Center for American Progress, five distinguished
panelists discussed and debated the weighted student
formula—a proposal offered by the Thomas B. Fordham
Institute.
The proposal calls for dramatic changes in financing
for the public education system. The weighted student
formula addresses current imbalances in school funding
by reallocating educational spending based on the needs
of students.
The panel at today’s event was composed of former
Secretary of Education Rod Paige, former San Francisco
superintendent Arlene Ackerman, Center for American
Progress president John Podesta, and Michael Rebell,
executive director of the Campaign for Educational equity.
Every panelist acknowledged that America’s educational
system is, in the words of Secretary Paige, “plagued
by inequity,” and that a more just distribution
of funds is necessary to improve public school systems.
Arlene Ackerman noted that children “who have
the least, get the least” in terms of education.
Statistics showing a nine hundred dollar per student
disparity in education funding between the highest and
lowest poverty school districts confirm this claim.
Cynthia Brown blamed these funding inequalities on government
inertia, the high costs of teacher salaries, and “savvy
schools” that receive a disproportionate amount
of money.
The weighted student formula distributes education
funds based on student need. John Podesta gave his full
support to this proposal, saying it would “spend
money effectively on kids that need it the most.”
Michael Rebell disagreed, arguing that the proposal
was a smokescreen to distract attention from funding
problems, advance school voucher programs, and decrease
school funding litigation. Arlene Ackerman vigorously
defended the formula, citing the progress of San Francisco
schools, and declaring that its implementation would
mean greater school choice and a “level playing
field” for all students, regardless of income.
Secretary Paige and Arlene Ackerman both warned that
although the proposal should be accepted, it is not
a “silver bullet” to the educational system’s
problems. In their opinion, equally distributing existing
resources among students in an effective manner is just
as important as increasing the funds themselves.
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