Chapter 6: Governance and Finance - Regulating and Funding Schools Vocabulary

ED-109 Vocab.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Legislation providing new federal aid to education and designed to provide economic stimulus to the U.S. economy.

block grants

Federal monies provided to states and school districts with few restrictions for use.

categorical grants

Federal funds targeted for specific groups and designed purposes such as Head Start.

commercialization

Corporations using schools as avenues or arenas for advertising and other business ventures.

local school board

A group of elected lay citizens responsible for setting policies that determine how a school district operates.

principal

The person who has the ultimate administrative responsibility for a school's operation.

property taxes

Taxes on properties that are used to support education and determined by the value of property in a school district.

school district

An administrative unit within a state, defined by geographical boundaries, and legally responsible for the public education of children within those boundaries.

state board of education

The legal governing body in a state that exercises general control and supervision of the schools in that state.

state office of education

Organization within a state responsible for implementing education policy on a day-to-day basis.

superintendent

The school district's head administrative officer who, along with his or her staff, is responsible for implementing policy in the district's schools.

weighted student formula

Funding that allocates resources within a district to schools on a per-school basis according to student needs.