More Freedom to Spend Less Money: What Happened When California School Districts Gained Spending Flexibility and Budgets Were Cut

Stecher, Brian M.; Fuller, Bruce; Timar, Tom; Marsh, Julie A.; Han, Bing; Katz, Beth; Waite, Anisah; Briggs, Mary; Spain, Angeline K.

doi:10.7249/rb9665

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Reforms in state finance systems have left local districts with less control over resources, but at the same time, new local players have emerged to assert power and weaken state control (which we explore in local empowerment policies below). In other cases, states, themselves, have moved away from a position of control, such as California’s 2009 deregulation of “Tier 3” categorical aid programs that allowed districts new flexibility over $4.5 billion in previously earmarked state revenues (Fuller, Marsh, Stecher, & Timar, 2011; Stecher, Fuller, Timar, & Marsh, 2012).…”

Section: The Intergovernmental Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In other cases, districts have stepped in to take advantage of new opportunities for control. Many California school districts opted to move most of the newly flexible “Tier 3” funds into their general funds to balance budgets and avoid teacher layoffs—casting aside state priorities defined by the once-protected, individual categorical programs (Fuller et al, 2011; Stecher at al., 2012).…”

Section: The Intergovernmental Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Trends in Intergovernmental Relations

Marsh

Wohlstetter

2013

Educational Researcher

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In this essay, the authors explore trends in intergovernmental relations (IGR) by analyzing recent education policies—No Child Left Behind Act, Common Core State Standards, and local empowerment policies. Identifying a resurgent role for local actors in education policy, the authors argue that recent federal efforts to exert more control have in many ways strengthened the influence of local actors by providing avenues for school districts and other local “non-system” players to challenge traditional governance arrangements. In a similar vein, because the federal government’s ability to achieve its goals rests primarily on actions of local players, federal policies have in the course of implementation strengthened the hand of many local actors. Based on their analyses, the authors stress that IGR is not a zero-sum game. As one level gains power in certain domains, other levels may simultaneously acquire power in the same or different domains. The authors further argue that relations among federal, state, and local governments are bidirectional. Federal policy often requires states and districts to alter local policies, and conversely, decisions made by states and districts can also influence federal decisions. The authors begin the essay with an overview of the intergovernmental landscape, followed by an analysis of current education policies to illustrate the ways in which local actors have retained and asserted significant control over schooling, despite the expanded federal role in education policy. The essay concludes with questions for future research and practice.

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Section: The Intergovernmental Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Intergovernmental Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%