How much money do public schools receive to educate students?
In the last two decades, a significant, although narrowing funding gap has persisted between school district and charter schools.
Since 2001, school district students have received between $1,000 and $2,000 more than charter students, depending on the year, according to figures from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee Per-Pupil Funding Reports and the Arizona Department of Education’s Annual Report.
Last year, district students received $9,250 per student compared to $8,054 for charter students, a gap of $1,196. The information includes all sources of funding.
Despite the funding cuts due to the recession, massive cuts to public education and districts’ ability to pass overrides, the Arizona Charter Schools Association successfully advocated for solutions that minimized the impact to charter students.
School finance continues to be a top priority for the Association as we work proactively at the legislature and with the Governor. The Association strongly believes Arizona should fund students, rather than systems.
Source: JLBC Per-Pupil Funding Reports for years available. In cases where JLBC report was not available, data were sourced from p. 6 and 8 of the Superintendent’s Annual Report Vol. 1, using Total Revenues. Annual Reports from FY09, FY14 and FY15 were used. Data for district sponsored charter schools are included in the district totals.
