Abstract
Court rulings and legal precedents can significantly influence educational policy, the fundamental financial structure of public schools, and the educational funding process at the local, regional, and national levels of education systems. Landmark court cases involving different stakeholders, employing various administrative concepts and a wide range of legal strategies, have had a significant impact on contemporary educational funding methods and on the creation of educational programs and new types of schools (Odden & Picus, 2004). This presentation examines the close interdependence of the legal and education systems and the outcomes of five landmark court cases which continue to influence current legislation at the local, state, and national levels of education. Student performance and learning outcomes related to funding, the trend towards privatization in education, and the planning of financial models which are appropriate to the contemporary needs and requirements of diverse student populations and American schools are also addressed. Despite increases in the total amount of funding for education in the United States and new legislation designed to address and correct educational funding imbalances, some differences continue to exist in local and state funding for education (Coon, 1999). Differences in funding between some school districts and systems persist despite decades of discussion, research, and various legal strategies and challenges in the legal system.
Author Information
Nathaniel Edwards, Yamaguchi National University, Japan
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