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The Massachusetts Equal Educational Opportunity grants: Have they contributed to equity in funding?
Abstract
It is generally recognized that disparities both in funding and the quality of educational services exist among school districts throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Using the property tax as the mainstay of educational funding can decrease educational opportunities for children from poorer districts. The Equal Educational Opportunity (EEO) grants program, introduced in 1985, was designed to equalize educational spending. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Equal Educational Opportunity grants program has increased equity in per pupil expenditures since its implementation. This study examined all single community K-12 vocational member districts, and compared Fiscal 1987 and Fiscal 1991 regular day weighted per pupil expenditures to assess the effectiveness of the EEO grant program. The first phase of the study was a quantitative analysis of FY '87 and FY '91 data, using statistical measurements frequently cited by school finance experts to determine fiscal (horizontal) equity. Both sets of data were compared to monitor progress over time. Additionally, the study determined the number of EEO communities moving closer to the state average over the time period, and compared that number with the number of non-EEO communities that also approached the state average to describe the relative success of the EEO program in achieving equity (as determined by approach to the state average). From the statistical analysis, the researcher concluded that little, if any, progress toward increasing horizontal equity was achieved through the EEO grant program. The disparity in per pupil expenditures between low-spending and high-spending districts as measured by range, restricted range, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation increased between fiscal 1987 and fiscal 1991. Slight, but nearly negligible, improvement was demonstrated by the federal range ratio and the McLoone index. Phase two of the project included a qualitative analysis of four selected communities to determine if fiscal inequities translate into educational opportunity inequities. Two EEO communities that spend approximately 70% of the state per pupil average, Brockton and Sandwich, and two communities that spend approximately 130% of the state average, Avon and Belmont were described. Both EEO communities faced significant personnel and program reductions. The non-EEO communities were able to maintain smaller class sizes, a longer school day, and better library and guidance services.
Subject Area
Education finance|Educational administration|Public administration
Recommended Citation
James, Robert G, "The Massachusetts Equal Educational Opportunity grants: Have they contributed to equity in funding?" (1993). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9329632.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9329632