Date of Award
Spring 5-2021
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Educational Administration
Department
Educational Administration
Major Professor
Dr. Chris Broadhurst
Second Advisor
Dr. Brian Beabout
Third Advisor
Dr. Diana Ward
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Colby Stoever
Abstract
Current research on school funding has focused primarily on the academic outcomes of non-identified students. However, literature surrounding the impact of school budgets on special education student outcomes was sparse for Louisiana. Recent findings on special education funding stressed the role of funding formulas and their relation to equity. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of per pupil spending and special education student achievement. Utilizing federal, state, and local financial data, the researcher was able to examine if a relationship existed between per pupil spending and special education student achievement scores on state testing. A secondary analysis examined if higher spending districts outperform lower spending districts for special education student achievement. Third grade students with (dis)abilities scores at basic in English were impacted by the interaction of teacher salaries and per pupil spending. Based on these findings, future school administrators and policymakers can effectively impact student achievement through equitable funding formulas. Implications for future research and practices includes reexamining the current school funding formula structure, disaggregating students with (dis)abilities funding based on IEP classifications, and inclusion of school-level information.
Recommended Citation
Farley, Matthew, "Does money matter? Examining the relationship between per pupil spending and special education student achievement within Louisiana public school districts" (2021). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2901.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2901
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.