Educational Fiscal Policy and Its Effects on How Our Children Learn: Comparing Minnesota and Illinois

First, Minnesota and Illinois educational policies are compared. The main difference is that Minnesota funds their public schools from the state level, while Illinois funds theirs from the local level. Unfortunately, Illinois\u27 fiscal policies lead to districts receiving unequal funding. As one might assume about this funding system, a wealthier district would receive more money, while a poorer district would receive less. Meanwhile, Minnesota strives to achieve equal funding across all districts. Then test scores and graduation rates are compared between the states to reveal if a correlation between funding and achievement levels exist. To further the study, test scores and graduation rates between wealthier and poorer districts in both states are compared as well. In addition, other variable factors for low achievement levels besides funding, such as poverty rates, pupil/teacher ratios, and technology, are accounted for