As of fiscal year 2017, 22 states still provided less per-pupil K–12 education funding than in 2008–09¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person · overdue for a recheck since 2025: baselines and conditions change

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Despite economic recovery, 22 states provided less per-pupil K–12 funding in fiscal year 2017 than in 2008–09, and some districts still had not restored pre-recession programs. → Krausen 2020

Evidence¶

Krausen 2020¶

Krausen, K., Caparas, R., Ripma, T., & Willis, J. (2020). Strategic resource allocation for the 21st century: How state leaders can address the silent recession. WestEd. https://www.wested.org/resources/strategic-resource-allocation/

q2 · i? · review · r2

The report's review of state funding trends states that "22 states still provided less per-pupil K–12 education funding than in 2008–09" as of fiscal year 2017, citing Leachman (2019). Interviewed state leaders noted increases were often restoring programs rather than adding resources.

"Indeed, as of fiscal year 2017, 22 states still provided less per-pupil K–12 education funding than in 2008–09."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Thirty-two states and DC guarantee base per-pupil funding, and state legislation can add year-to-year funding guarantees such as California's Proposition 98 — related
• Rainy day funds buffer education budgets during downturns, and the median state rainy day fund balance is projected to reach 14.4 percent of general fund expenditures by the end of fiscal year 2025 — related
• Because California education funding relies heavily on the personal income tax, state education funds are highly susceptible to economic fluctuations and vulnerable during recessions — related
• State caps on district reserves, such as California's 10 percent and New York's 4 percent caps, can limit districts' ability to budget conservatively for economic hard times — related
• Federal IDEA funding has provided only about 15 percent of the national average per-pupil expenditure, versus the 40 percent originally promised — related
• California ECE funding suffered over $1 billion in recession-era cuts, eliminating roughly 25% of child care slots between 2008 and 2013, and funding remains below pre-recession levels — related
• U.S. school funding is highly inequitable: districts serving the most students of color spend $1,800 less per student, and wealthier districts spend two to three times what the poorest can — related
• From 2012 to 2017, average inflation-adjusted per-pupil revenue and expenditure were greater in rural Utah districts than in non-rural districts — related