Economic and Social Considerations

• Identify the social and economic conditions that influence educational funding.
• Analyze the changing demographics of America and the implications relative to educational finance.

Benefits of Education

• Examine the return on educational investments with respect to individual achievement and societal benefit.
• Analyze the correlation between economic resources available and educational achievement.

Sources of Revenue

• Examine the various sources of revenue available to support public education.
• Describe the history and use of taxes in funding education.
• Examine the various methods used to evaluate taxation for education.

Funding Equity

• Define "equity" in school funding.
• Examine the relationship between funding equity and equal educational opportunities for students.

State Funding Formulas

• Examine the various state funding formulas including their advantages and disadvantages.
• Analyze a state funding formula for a specific state.

Federal Role in Financing Education

• Analyze the federal government's role in public education as prescribed by the United States Constitution, other federal legislation, and court decisions.
• Examine the impact of federal aid, implemented through education legislation, to current public school programs.

School Finance Litigation

• Analyze the roots of public school finance challenges and the principles involved.
• Examine court cases that have influenced state funding formulas throughout the country, particularly those dealing with funding equity and educational opportunities.

School District Budgeting and Accounting Procedures

• Identify the various components of a school district annual budget.
• Analyze the necessary steps and stakeholders involved resulting in a cooperatively developed annual budget.
• Examine budget documents to differentiate between revenue and expenditure budgets.
• Explain the impact of "weighted student count" figures on the budget development process.
• Identify the requirements for accounting, reporting, and auditing procedures relating to school financial matters under state law.

Bonding and Capital Outlay Procedures

• Examine the various methods of funding capital outlay projects.

Purchasing and Inventory Control

• Examine purchasing and inventory control procedures that contribute to sound budget policy and budget management.

Risk Management

• Define risk management and identify its relationship to valid school finance policy.

The Impact of Political Issues on School Finance

• Identify current and future "politically charged" issues that influence school funding.
• Identify the positive and negative impacts of technology on school finance.