Answer:
One policy change that could make education more equitable is implementing a needs-based funding formula for public schools. This would involve allocating funding to schools based on the needs of their student population, such as low-income students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and students from historically marginalized communities.
To implement this policy change, it would be necessary to collect data on student needs at each school and adjust funding accordingly. This could be done through a combination of standardized assessments and surveys of student and family demographics. Schools with higher concentrations of students with needs would receive more funding per student, while schools with fewer students with needs would receive less funding.
One example of a successful implementation of a needs-based funding formula is the state of California. In 2013, California implemented the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which allocates funding to school districts based on the number of students with needs. The LCFF has led to increased funding for schools with higher concentrations of students with needs and has been credited with helping to narrow the achievement gap between high-needs students and their peers.
However, there are potential drawbacks to implementing a needs-based funding formula. Some may argue that it could lead to a situation where schools with fewer students with needs are left with inadequate funding, which could harm their ability to provide quality education. Additionally, implementing a needs-based funding formula could be costly, as it would require additional resources to collect and analyze student data.
Overall, implementing a needs-based funding formula is a practical policy change that could help make education more equitable by ensuring that schools with higher concentrations of students with needs receive the resources they need to provide a high-quality education. However, careful planning and consideration of potential drawbacks are necessary to ensure that this policy change is successful.