Select One State From The NEA’s Rankings & Estimates

Select One State from the NEA’s “Rankings & Estimates” and Compare It to the US Average

Compare a state selected from the NEA’s “Rankings & Estimates” publication to the U.S. average in the following categories:

• Public School Revenue per Student in Fall Enrollment
• Percentage of Revenue for Public K-12 Schools from Local Governments
• Percentage of Revenue for Public K-12 Schools from State Governments

What conclusions can you draw from this information?

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will examine a specific state from the National Education Association’s (NEA) “Rankings & Estimates” publication and compare its public K-12 education funding characteristics to the national averages. The focus will be on three key financial indicators: revenue per student during the fall enrollment period, the proportion of funding derived from local government sources, and the proportion from state government sources. The goal is to analyze disparities or similarities and draw meaningful conclusions regarding the funding landscape of public education in that state relative to the United States as a whole.

The selected state for this analysis is California, which consistently ranks highly in terms of student population and total education funding. According to the NEA’s 2019 report, California’s public school revenue per student during fall enrollment was approximately $14,600, which is notably higher than the national average of about $13,000. This suggests that California invests more per student in its public schools, potentially leading to better resource availability, facilities, and educational programs.

However, when looking at the sources of funding, California relies on local governments for about 44% of its education revenue, closely aligning with the national average of approximately 45%. Conversely, state government funding constitutes roughly 46% of California's education revenue, slightly above the national average of around 45%. These figures indicate that California’s funding structure for K-12 education is quite representative of national patterns, with a balanced contribution from local and state sources.

From these findings, several conclusions can be drawn. First, California allocates a relatively higher amount of money per student compared to the U.S. average, which may translate into enhanced educational opportunities and facilities. Second, the funding sources mirror national trends, with a significant shared responsibility between local and state governments. This balance reflects the decentralized nature of American public education funding, where both levels of government play vital roles.

Furthermore, the higher per-student expenditure combined with the balanced funding model suggests that California prioritizes education funding, possibly addressing the diverse needs of its substantial student population. Conversely, states with lower per-student spending might face challenges in providing comparable educational quality. Overall, evaluating these financial metrics highlights the importance of funding adequacy and source distribution in shaping the quality and equity of public education.

References

• California Department of Education. (2019). Financial data and reports. California Department of Education. https://www.cde.ca.gov
• National Education Association. (2019). Rankings & Estimates: Ranking of the States 2019 and Estimates of School Statistics 2020. NEA Research. https://www.nea.org
• U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). Public Education Finances: 2019. https://www.census.gov
• Lubienski, C., & Lubienski, S. (2006). Charter, Private, Public Schools and Academic Achievement: New Evidence from NAEP Mathematics Data. National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education.
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• Buddin, R., & Zamarro, G. (2019). Education Spending and Student Achievement: Evidence from California Schools. Education Economics, 27(4), 354-375.
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