Archived

This content is available here strictly for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping and as such it may not be fully accessible. If you work or study at University of Kentucky and would like to request an accessible version, please use the SensusAccess Document Converter.

Abstract

Kentucky’s K-12 experienced an 80% in increase in per pupil funds, after inflation, from 1990 to 2019. However, there have been only modest changes in its nationally-administered test scores, and no increases in the past decade. Moreover, per pupil funding seems to exceed that of all but the most exclusive private school tuition. Just over one-half of public funds goes directly to instruction and most funds to local schools come from Frankfort. Scoring on Kentucky’s own student assessment tests, the K-PREP, are higher than that of the comparable nationally-administered tests. Also, K-PREP shows improvement, while the other tests do not. About 20% of Kentucky students fall into the lowest K-PREP score category. For African American students, it is double that percentage. Kentucky’s K-12 system impedes teachers and other school personnel in devising suitable programs for the varied needs of children, and inhibits parental choice among possible alternatives. A system of robust school choice and competition enables the design of programs by teachers/schools and empowers parental choice among programs to suit their children’s needs.

Document Type

Research Paper

Publication Date

12-2020

Working Paper Number

Working Paper 36

Download

Share

COinS