The Alpha and Omega Syndrome: Is Intra-District Funding the Next Ripeness Factor?

• Published in: Journal of education finance Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 162 - 185
• Main Authors: Owings, William A., Kaplan, Leslie S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Illinois Press 22-09-2010
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Alpha and Omega; Court Litigation; Differences; Disadvantaged; Economic Climate; Education; Educational equalization; Educational Equity (Finance); Educational research; Evaluation; Expenditure per Student; Faculty Mobility; Finance; Funding; Funding Formulas; High schools; Laws, regulations and rules; Litigation; Minority group students; Minority Groups; Politics of Education; Resource Allocation; Ripeness doctrine; School District Wealth; School districts; Socioeconomic Status; Spending; Taxes; Teachers; Time Perspective; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0098-9495; 1944-6470; 1944-6470
• DOI: 10.1353/jef.2010.0002

Fiscal disparities within school districts maybe the next area "ripe" for litigation. Equity and adequacy litigation have largely focused on between-district fiscal disparities. Research suggests that within-district disparities may be as unfair to high poverty schools. When the school funding pie is not growing, remedying within-district fiscal disparities may be a winning strategy to support education for low-income and minority students.