1-5
The obligation of schools and teachers to be held responsible for student performance.
accountability
A certificate of debt issued by a government guaranteeing payment of the original investment plus interest by a specified future date. Bonds are used by local communities to raise the funds they need to build or repair schools.
bond
Elected or appointed officials who determine educational policies for school systems.
local school board of education
Local real estate taxes (also cars and personal property) historically used to fund local schools.
property tax
Average amount of money a school district spends to educate one student for a year (used to compare school funding)
spending by pupil (financial input)
Differences in learning and graduation rates among schools, often linked to differences in school populations and funding.
achievement gap
Federal financial aid to local school districts from state or federal agencies for SPECIFIC purposes.
categorical grants
These groups affect education policy and
decision making at the national level mainly
through the threat to strike.
National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Supreme Court decision that supported local funding of education through use of property tax.
San Antonio v Rodriguez (1973)
The state education agency that regulates policies necessary to implement legislative acts related to education.
state board of education
Guarantees intended to ensure that all students have the basic skills they need to be effective citizens and compete in the labor market.
adequate education
A business relationship between schools and corporations through which companies offer schools services and products and often have their corporate names used in the schools
corporate educational partnership
Reauthorization of ESEA. This legislation differed from ESEA in that federal funding was tied to evidence-base achievement, hence standardized testing onslaught.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) 2001
School districts with lower levels of income from property taxes with students who need a higher level of services
school funding gap
An agency that operates under the
direction of the state board of education, accrediting schools, certifying teachers, appropriating state school funds, and so on.
state department of education
Provided $150 billion to keep schools open and functioning and was based on the level of need.
American Recovery and Revitalization Act (ARRA) 2009
Texas Supreme Court issued ruling that the property tax funding system for education was unconstitutional and ordered Texas to devise a fairer plan.
Edgewood v. Kirby (1989)
National organization but has little influence on educational policy making.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Case in which California's State Supreme
Court determined that the state, not the property owners, was responsible for funding education regardless the financial condition of family and neighbors.
Serrano v. Priest
The executive head of a state department of education. The chief state school officer is responsible for carrying out the mandates of the state board of education and enforcing educational laws and regulations. This position is also referred to as state superintendent.
state school superintendent (GA-Richard Woods)
Federal financial aid provided to the states, with LIMITED federal restrictions, for educational aid and program funding
block grants
student achievement
educational outcome
Promoted by businesses who want to influence or profit from education. A company is hired to run schools.
privatization
A school governance method that shifts decision making from the central district office to individual schools. See also school- based management.
site-based (school-based) management
The constitutional Amendment that establishes that areas not specifically mentioned in the Constitution as federal responsibilities are left to state authority. Since education is not mentioned, each state is free to create its own school system.
Tenth Amendment