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February 9, 2004

School funding studies: Hard numbers, hard challenges

Another key point about the New York funding study is one that we will be seeing a lot more of: The independent experts were tasked with arriving at figures for the costs of an adequate education, not based on palatability to politicians or think tanks, but on the needs of children.

Such studies start with a blank slate and take a hard look at what it actually takes to educate all students to standards set forth by Congress in NCLB, by the states themselves in state standards, and, in an increasing number of states, by courts that have had to intervene when the political system for whatever reason hasn't been up to the job. Maine recently did its own study, and David Silvernail, vice chair of the task force appointed to conduct the study, told the Adequacy Conference that so far Maine's legislature and governor have demonstrated gritty leadership by deciding to make good on the study's recommendations.

The fact that governments now are establishing hard legal definitions of adequate education has enabled experts to arrive at hard numbers for what it takes to get there. Today's Washington Post editorial points out that NCLB is forcing states to pay attention to funding inadequacies and educational disparities. This is one of the key strengths of NCLB and standards-based reform generally, for all of the problems. "Data-driven," remember? Talk is cheap, but really leaving no child behind will not be. And that's partly why we are starting to hear such a defensive hue and cry of "Money doesn't matter," or "It's not about the money," or "We're just throwing money at the problem." Nonsense. Keep your eyes on the ball.

To be sure, school boards have a responsibility to look out for taxpayers and make sure money is used effectively and efficiently. But at the same time, they have a responsibility to tell lawmakers bluntly that public schools and school children don't inhabit some kind of weird alternate universe. Like for everything and everyone else, money matters.

Posted February 9, 2004 12:00 AM