Bridging the Resource Divide: Equitable Funding and Educational Opportunity in Public Schools

Xinyi Jin

doi:10.54254/2753-7048/2025.NS27538

Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public MediaOpen access

Bridging the Resource Divide: Equitable Funding and Educational Opportunity in Public Schools

Research Article

Open Access

Bridging the Resource Divide: Equitable Funding and Educational Opportunity in Public Schools

Xinyi Jin ^1*

¹ University of Michigan

^*Corresponding author: xinyijin@umich.edu

Published on 2 October 2025

LNEP Vol.123

ISSN (Print): 2753-7056

ISSN (Online): 2753-7048

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-401-4

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-402-1

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Abstract

The issue of educational inequality has been at the top of the agenda in education systems around the world, especially in countries where funding structures can lead to resource disparity between low-income and well-to-do communities. In the following paper, the bipolar relationship between school funding schemes and educational equity within the U.S. context will be examined through the prism of two public school districts, which represent opposite, demographically speaking, extremes. The results indicate that the funding schemes that rely on property taxes are reproducing the existing disparities in terms of resource allocation, which means that there is a big difference regarding the quality of the teachers, the infrastructure, and support services to students. Districts with a weighted student funding formula are better at achieving equity. The research results indicate that reduced disparities and greater access to equal educational opportunities can be achieved by shifting to needs-based, state-managed funding models. These results provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and governance authorities seeking to reform the school finance system to foster a more equitable, inclusive public education system characterized by quality.

Keywords:

School funding, resource allocation, Educational equity, public education policy, funding reform

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References

[1]. Baker, B. D., Sciarra, D. G., & Farrie, D. (2014). Is school funding fair? A national report card. Education Law Center. https: //eric.ed.gov/?id=ED570455

[2]. Owens, A. (2016). Inequality in children’s contexts: Income segregation of households with and without children. American Sociological Review, 81(3), 549-574. https: //doi.org/10.1177/0003122416642430

[3]. Kim, H. R. (2005). The role of school resources in student achievement among OECD countries: A structural equation modeling analysis. University of Virginia. https: //www.proquest.com/openview/3da85ae26485ee3e8cd094d8700e37f3/1?pq-origsite=gscholar& cbl=18750& diss=y

[4]. Darling-Hammond, L. (2013). Inequality and school resources. Closing the opportunity gap: What America must do to give every child an even chance, 77. https: //doi.org/10.3102/0013189X18821122

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[6]. U.S. Department of Education. (2020). State and Local Expenditures on Public Schools. National Center for Education Statistics. https: //nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cmb

[7]. Roza, M. (2010). Educational Economics: Where Do School Funds Go?. Urban Institute. 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037. https: //eric.ed.gov/?id=ED511714

[8]. Harley, K. R. (2019). An Examination of the Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control Accountability Plan: Are They Aligned to Address the Needs of African American, English Learners, Low Income, Foster, and Homeless Youth? (Doctoral dissertation, San Diego State University). https: //www.proquest.com/openview/aad19a25dc1de57ef82bfd2b75bc9022/1?pq-origsite=gscholar& cbl=18750& diss=y

[9]. Jackson, C. K. (2020). Does school spending matter? The new literature on an old question. American Psychological Association. https: //psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0000187-008

References

[1]. Baker, B. D., Sciarra, D. G., & Farrie, D. (2014). Is school funding fair? A national report card. Education Law Center. https: //eric.ed.gov/?id=ED570455

[4]. Darling-Hammond, L. (2013). Inequality and school resources. Closing the opportunity gap: What America must do to give every child an even chance, 77. https: //doi.org/10.3102/0013189X18821122

[6]. U.S. Department of Education. (2020). State and Local Expenditures on Public Schools. National Center for Education Statistics. https: //nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cmb

[7]. Roza, M. (2010). Educational Economics: Where Do School Funds Go?. Urban Institute. 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037. https: //eric.ed.gov/?id=ED511714

[9]. Jackson, C. K. (2020). Does school spending matter? The new literature on an old question. American Psychological Association. https: //psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0000187-008

Cite this article

Jin,X. (2025). Bridging the Resource Divide: Equitable Funding and Educational Opportunity in Public Schools. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,123,38-43.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICILLP 2025 Symposium: Psychological Perspectives on Teacher-Student Relationships in Educational Contexts

ISBN: 978-1-80590-401-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-402-1(Online)

Editor: Renuka Thakore, Abdullah Laghari

Conference website: https://2025.icillp.org/Nawabshah.html

Conference date: 17 October 2025

Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media

Volume number: Vol.123

ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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