Course Description
Examination and analysis of the formulation, implementation, and consequences of school finance policy.
Athena Title
Education Finance and Policy
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EDAP 9020E
Prerequisite
EDAP 8080
Pre or Corequisite
EDAP 8210 or EDAP 8210E
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will: 1. Apply the basic concepts of public policy analysis to school finance policy. 2. Apply the theories of agenda setting and problem definition to the development of school finance policy. 3. Identify the actors and their roles in the formulation of school finance policy. 4. Understand the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government in influencing school finance policy. 5. Examine the implementation and consequences of school finance policy. 6. Understand the interaction of school finance policy with other educational policy decisions. 7. Understand how the theoretical positions and social context shape policy development and underlie current and past educational finance policy.
Topical Outline
Agenda setting and school finance. Problem definition in school finance. Role of the federal and state legislative branches in setting school finance policy. Role of the federal and state judicial branches in setting school finance policy. Role of the federal and state executive branches of government in setting school finance policy. Role of state departments of education in developing and implementing school finance policy. Role of local school boards and administration in developing and implementing school finance policy. Balancing state and local control in the financing of education. Role of non-governmental interest groups in developing and setting school finance policy. Using different models (economic, political, and organizational) to examine the school finance decision-making processes. Examining school finance policy from the ex ante and ex post perspectives. Using inter-governmental grants theory and other related theories to explain implementation of school finance policy.