Equalize Student Achievement: Prioritizing Money and Power

Written in plain language for community members, parents, school leaders, and school board members, this book explains where school funding comes from and how a school budget is developed, and discusses related issues of equity and adequacy. Many of the book's examples and comparisons come from real situations in Illinois schools. The book begins with a history of publicly supported education and a look at the foundations of current state and national policies on educational opportunity. Landmark cases are reviewed to illustrate recent research on the relationship between student achievement, socioeconomic status, teacher qualifications, and federal and state policies impacting the funding of schools. The book concludes with recommendations for equitable funding. Wong teaches education at Benedictine University. Co-author Daniel M. Casing is a veteran educational administrator. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Ovid K. Wong is an associate education professor at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. He is the author of twenty-two books and has received the Midwest Book Author award from the Children's Reading Roundtable of Chicago. Daniel M. Casing spent more than twenty-five years in educational administration serving as building principal, district superintendent, and assistant superintendent for financial services. Casing served on the Greater City of Freeport and Stephenson County Illinois Economic Development Committee, the Freeport Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors for Trailways Girl Scout Council, was active in the Lions and Rotary International in addition to his service in the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.