Investments in Education Reform: Has the Momentum Been Retained?

Overview & Synopsis

The central education policy question for the next several years is whether the state educational reform movement can be maintained. One concern in the development of education policy is whether the money necessary to accomplish these changes will be available. First, funding increases for education reform since 1983 are examined. Second, the percentage of specified reform dollars is compared, first to total state revenue and, second, to revenue from all sources, over time. Two major data sources were utilized for this study: (1) figures on reform expenditures were collected from the "National Education Association's Estimates of School Statistics, 1987-88"; (2) a questionnaire was sent to the finance director for each state department of education to determine new line-item funding and specific "education reform" funding. The data were then analyzed to determine how the states are funding the reforms they are legislating and recommending. Although many states enacted some form of increased graduation requirements and excellence policies, many of them set aside no additional aid for these measures. In conclusion, it is likely that education reform and education finance reform will be linked in an effort to achieve the tandem goals of equity and excellence in education. Endnotes, charts detailing state education reform initiatives and support, and state revenues allocated for education are appended. (LMS)