Civitas Forum: How We Pay For Schools

Wisconsin State Journal
11/17/2007

The federal government mandates the performance of local school districts in a number of areas, such as providing educational opportunities for children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment possible and ensuring academic achievement among all students.

However, the federal contribution toward public K-12 education amounts to 6 percent of total costs in Wisconsin, compared with the 9.1 percent of costs federal programs pay for in other states.

In Wisconsin, the federal share of special education funding is small, but growing. For example, during the 2000-01 school year, special education spending by local districts was about $964 million, with federal funds covering approximately 6.7 percent of the total. By 2003-04, special education spending was nearly $1.3 billion, with federal aids funding 12 percent, according to figures compiled by Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. However, this figure is well below the percentage authorized by federal law.

RISING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
In 2001, Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. The legislation mandates additional testing of all students in grades three through eight and requires that schools improve the academic performance of their students on standardized tests. Although Wisconsin's receipt of federal funds targeted to needy students has increased since 2001, research by UW-Madiosn Professor of Public Affairs and Applied Economics Andrew Reschovsky indicates the aid is substantially less than school districts will need to meet the new federal student performance standards.

What you think: In a March 2006 Wood Communications Group survey of 600 Dane County residents, respondents expressed positive views about the management of most public schools in the community. Fifty-three percent rated the management of area public schools as "excellent" or "good," while 38 percent gave the management marks of "fair" or "poor." The remaining respondents were unsure.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that states are the largest single source of public school funding. According to data from 2005 for Wisconsin and the Unites States, Wisconsin's contribution is (a) 7.2 percent lower; (b) 1.6 percent lower; © 2.8 percent lower; or (d) 7.4 percent higher than the national average.

Last column's quiz answer: On average, 9 percent of local school funding is not covered by property taxes.

Got a question? Civitas experts can answer your public policy question. E-mail national@madison.com. What is Civitas? These monthly seminars inform citizens about local government issues and civic responsibility. They are organized by Wood Communications Group and financially supported by several Madison area companies. For more information, visit www.civitaswi.org.