The Role of Funding and Other Factors in US K-12 Education System

This essay analyzes the factors contributing to the success of the K-12 education system in the United States. It explores the relationship between socioeconomic factors, school funding, and academic achievement, arguing that while funding can enhance the system by providing better resources, it is not a guaranteed determinant of success. The essay examines the importance of qualitative measures, such as student mind growth, diversified education, and the development and availability of resources. It highlights the role of online education and personalized learning experiences in improving student outcomes, emphasizing the need for investing in resources like counselors, teachers, and technology. The assignment references key studies and articles to support its arguments, concluding that while funding can assist in making the K-12 system better equipped, the focus should be on holistic development and diversified education.

Running Head: EDUCATION SYSTEM 1
Education System in United States

EDUCATION SYSTEM 2
There are various factors which are the major reasons behind success of American
Schools. It is well-known that socioeconomic factors have a strong relationship with education
and academic achievement. No, school funding is not really a determinant of success. Spending
funds is not sufficient to make the education system better and effective. From the given article,
it can be analyzed that spending more dollars over troubled schools will not improve test scores
and grades. The critics in the article state that just spending money is not enough. It is how the
people spend money on schools, not how much they spend. In the United States, there are several
schools such as Pennsylvania which school funding system is inadequate and unfair. It can be
evaluated that that funding can enhance the education system by getting better buildings,
effective class sizes, better salaries to teachers, take home text books and decreased teacher
turnover but spending money is no guarantee of better outcomes for students (National Public
Radio, 2016).
Instead of money measurement, the success in K-12 education system can be measured by
focusing on other factors such as development and availability of resources, mind growth of
students, emphasis on quality rather than quantity, diversified education etc. K-12 system is the
education system that includes both primary and secondary education in various countries such
as India, United States, Turkey, Australia, Iran etc. for publicly assisted school grades. The
success of K-12 education system should be measured in qualitative terms rather than
quantitative terms (Deming, David and Figlio, 2016). The schools should emphasize on
developing the minds of students in diversified disciplines. In United States, Academic
Performance Index (API) is considered as a primary tool for summarizing the performance and
success of school system. But this tool only measures the success of those students who show up.
However, more funding cannot improve the education system but it can assist to make the K-12
education system better equipped to become more successful. They can invest money on
enhancing the education system and it can develop online education system. Through this
education system, the schools can offer personalized learning experience to the students. It will
have positive impact on their grades and school’s metrics (Batel, 2017). This education will
assist the student to know about other things regardless of their nominal grades only. In today’s
modern environment, the funds should be invested in availing required resources at schools such
as counselors, teachers, technology advancements, social workers, school supplies and books.

EDUCATION SYSTEM 3
More spending on education can be used to partner with different agencies which can assist the
employees in K-12 education system. It can provide strong insights and tools which increase
their efficiency, streamline the workflow and improve the decision making process. It will
empower the states and districts to take the education system to new heights. These additional
funds should be invested to provide the education and required resources to the people who
cannot afford the education in good schools (Berliner, David and Glass, 2014). It will make them
able to grow their knowledge and mind in different areas of education. Thus, more funding can
assist in making K-12 system better equipped to become more successful.

EDUCATION SYSTEM 4
References
Batel, S., Measuring Success: An Overview of New School Classification Indicators Under
ESSA, available from
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-12/reports/2017/08/04/436965/measuring-
success-overview-new-school-classification-indicators-essa/. (Accessed on 21 March 2018)
(2017).
National Public Radio. Can More Money Fix America's Schools? available from
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/04/25/468157856/can-more-money-fix-americas-schools.
(Accessed on 21 March 2018) (2016).
Deming, David J., and Figlio, D. "Accountability in US education: Applying lessons from K-12
experience to higher education." Journal of Economic Perspectives 30, no. 3 (2016): 33-56.
Berliner, David C., and Gene V. Glass, eds. 50 myths and lies that threaten America's public
schools: The real crisis in education. US, Teachers College Press, 2014.