Question 1

The property tax rate is expressed in

Accepted Answer

Property tax rates are often expressed in mills, where one mill represents one-tenth of a cent or $0.001. This unit of measure is specifically used for property taxes to calculate the tax owed per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Question 2

The level of government that relies on the property tax as the main source of income is

Accepted Answer

Local governments primarily rely on property taxes as their main source of income, using these funds for services such as public schools, police and fire departments, and local infrastructure.

Question 3

State court decisions affecting financial support of public education have sent the message that

Accepted Answer

State court decisions have often highlighted the link between the level of financial support and the quality of education, indicating that adequate funding is crucial for maintaining a high standard of education.

Question 4

Your state is trying to implement a hotly contested new finance plan that would transfer funds from wealthy districts to poor ones. Those who support the plan probably base their arguments on which of the following issues?

Accepted Answer

Supporters of transferring funds from wealthy districts to poor ones likely argue from the standpoint of equity, aiming to ensure all students have access to similar resources and opportunities, regardless of the wealth of their local district.

Question 5

Given the history of federal funding of education, it is most accurate to say that

Accepted Answer

Federal funding for public education has often been allocated for specific initiatives or to address particular national concerns, such as desegregation or improving academic achievement, rather than as a general support mechanism.

Question 6

As the proportion of people over sixty-five increases, it is likely that there will be

Accepted Answer

As the proportion of people over sixty-five increases, there is likely to be increasing resistance to school budget increases because older populations are often on fixed incomes and may prioritize spending differently than younger populations with school-aged children.

Question 7

State lotteries, a recently tapped funding source for schools,

Accepted Answer

State lotteries contribute only a small portion of the total revenue needed for education, making their impact minimal in the grand scheme of state education funding.

Question 8

Districts with a high number of students with special needs would lobby for state educational funding based on the

Accepted Answer

The weighted student plan is designed to allocate funds based on the specific needs of students, including those with special needs. This approach ensures that districts with a higher number of students requiring additional support receive more funding to address those needs effectively.

Question 9

Articulate what potential problems may develop when school districts rely on property taxes as school revenue sources?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Articulate what potential problems may develop when...

Question 10

Many state courts have ruled that inequities in educational expenditures in districts throughout the state are

Accepted Answer

Many state courts have found that disparities in educational funding across districts violate constitutional provisions for equal protection or education rights, thus ruling such inequities as unconstitutional.

Question 11

School financing arrangements are most vulnerable to being declared unconstitutional in

Accepted Answer

School financing arrangements are most likely to be declared unconstitutional in scenarios where there are substantial differences in districts' average spending per student, as this can indicate inequitable access to educational resources, violating equal protection or education clauses in state constitutions.

Question 12

The shift from categorical grants to block grants in the 1980s resulted in

Accepted Answer

Block grants give states more autonomy in deciding how to spend federal funds, shifting decision-making from the federal level to the state level.

Question 13

The level of government that pays the highest percentage of total school revenues is the

Accepted Answer

The state level typically pays the highest percentage of total school revenues, as education funding in the United States is primarily a state and local responsibility, with states playing a significant role in allocating funds to school districts.

Question 14

Federal aid to education initially was provided through a number of isolated, unrelated programs. More recently, under No Child Left Behind, there has been an effort to develop a broadly conceived national plan for education. What are the reasons for the federal government's becoming more involved in education? Provide examples of federally funded programs to substantiate your arguments.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Federal aid to education initially was provided...

Question 15

Low-income families would consider a sales tax on food to be a

Accepted Answer

A sales tax on food is considered a regressive tax because it takes a larger percentage of income from low-income families than from high-income families, making it harder on those with less financial flexibility.

Question 16

From the 1980s to the present, citizens and governmental representatives have taken increasing interest in holding educators accountable for their actions. Discuss how educators have demonstrated this accountability, and identify related issues.

Accepted Answer

The answer of From the 1980s to the present, citizens...

Question 17

Asbury Elementary School needs an after-school child-care center. Of the following types of revenue, which is best suited (and perhaps easiest to attain)for support of this project?

Accepted Answer

User fees are best suited and perhaps easiest to attain for supporting an after-school child-care center because they directly charge the families who use the service, making it a more targeted and equitable form of funding compared to broad-based tax increases.

Question 18

What is the primary purpose of assessing user fees in a school environment?

Accepted Answer

User fees in a school environment are primarily assessed to offset shrinking revenues from traditional sources, such as state funding or property taxes, helping schools maintain programs and services without drastically increasing taxes or cutting programs.

Question 19

The largest portion of revenue for the schools is generated from _____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The largest portion of revenue for the...

Question 20

Municipal overburden is a term used to indicate

Accepted Answer

Municipal overburden refers to the strain on local government finances caused by the need to provide a wide range of public services, leading to high financial demands.

Quiz 8: Financing Public Education