School Funding A Review of Existing Models in European and OECD Countries

The methods of funding schools have been an issue of debate in England since the introduction of local management of schools in the early 1990s. Since then, delegation of funding to schools has increased. More recently, changes to the system of school funding have fuelled the debate in England about how schools should be financed. This report interrogates the literature for alternative models of educational funding from other countries, as well as examining the literature for their strengths and weaknesses. The report provides a review of existing models of school funding in European and OECD countries and the advantages and disadvantages of each model. The report covers: financial source and flow; division of responsibilities; allocation of funding to schools. The report also includes nine country illustrations which provide examples of the models identified throughout the report. Recommendations arising from the research suggest that there may be much to be learned from examination of other countries' funding models. [Back cover].