90-817 Education Finance and Policy

12 units, Carnegie Mellon University

The purpose of this Heinz course is to introduce professional masters students to the special problems of financing regional governments in a decentralized federal system with a special focus on public education. The course i reviews theories of federalism from economic and constitutional perspectives, ii reviews the evolution of the United States from a confederation to a federation, iii examines financial and political problems associated with jointure, iv reviews alternative rationales for public financing and provision of education k16, v analyzes distressed school systems and municipal governments, vi reviews the international evidence on estimated economic returns and distributional effects of k16 public education and the use of costeffectiveness and educational production functions, vii school budgeting issues, viii the school property tax, ix intergovernmental relations and the design of school aid formulas, and x the measurement and implications of student achievement. These issues are examined from positive and normative perspectives, and through the lens of economics and political economy.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Spring 2027

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