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Carey and Roza begin with a vivid description of two similar elementary schools--one in Virginia, one in North Carolina--and the funding discrepancies that differentiate them. Their operating costs and needs are similar, but the school in Virgina receives twice as much funding. While the Title 1 program helps put federal money into schools with low-income students, it apportions the payout to match how much states spend on each school. Carey and Roza carefully demonstrate the difference between the actual costs of education per student and the total money that a district spends on them. The end result is that schools in wealthier districts in wealthier states receive more Title 1 and other funding--and the schools and students who need aid most aren't receiving nearly enough. Title 1 is just one example of the policy examined. Roza and Carey's report, from Education Sector and the Center for Reinventing Public Education, looks at federal, state, and local policy. Shared as a resource by a TLN Forum member, it's worth reading to learn more about how high-needs schools are funded.

Carey, K. & Roza, M. (2008). School funding's tragic flaw. Education Sector/Center for Reinventing Public Education. Retrieved from Education Sector 19 May 2008. http://www.educationsector.org/usr_doc/Tragic_Flaw_may14_combo.pdf

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