Many schools are publicly funded through the government, which is subsidized through taxes. The right to education is something that every child should have access to, no matter what their socio-economic background is. Many schools also supplement their funding through donations and fundraisers. This type of fundraising is very important because it can provide the necessary educational tools, books, teachers and materials to provide current and the best educational resources for students at every age. Donations may take place in a variety of ways including scholarships, lump sum donations, or annual donations that arrive through fundraising efforts.

Funding for Middle Schools

Funding for middle schools is very much the same as the funding for both primary schools and secondary schools. In fact, in many cases it is hard to distinguish between the funding for middle schools versus that of secondary school or elementary school. Operational Costs In the school year of 2010-2011, the total expenditures for public elementary, middle and secondary school in the US was calculated to be $632 billion. This can also be broken down by student, which amounts to $12,608 per student in the public school system. Of that figure, $11,153 were for the operation of elementary, middle and...

Funding for Higher Education

Unlike other educational institutions in the United States, tertiary institutions – including universities and community colleges – are less likely to be funded and run by municipal, state, or federal governments. Most rely on student tuition payments to pay staff salaries and operational costs and the United States has one of the most expensive higher education systems in the world. In the 2012 fiscal year, average tuition for a public community college offering a two-year associate’s degree was $3,131 USD per year, while the average tuition for a private university offering a four-year...

Funding for Pre-Schools

There is a current lack of funding in the United States for preschool programs. Early learning has been proven to have a significant positive effect on student outcomes; however, currently fewer than 30% of all four-year-olds are enrolled in quality preschool programs. Funding to support these programs and make enrollment possible for families from all socioeconomic groups is a current area of need that has been identified by the government. Moreover, statistics indicate that spending money on preschool programs provides seven times the financial return in money spent on remedial education, special...

Funding for Primary Schools

In the United States, the Constitution deems that funding for public schools, including primary and elementary schools, is primarily the responsibility of the states. Individual state constitutions must make provisions for public schools that provide effective programs for students under the age of eighteen. Of course, the quality of the education often depends on the funding allocated to this cause. Finance systems vary a great deal from state-to-state. Most have evolved over the years according to changes in political climate. In addition, funding is also provided by federal and municipal...

Funding for Secondary Schools

Providing funding for public high schools is the primary responsibility of the state government. However, local governments often contribute a large portion of their revenue, and in many cases local governments account for the chief source of funding for high schools in the same district. Across the United States, figures from the 2011-2012 fiscal year indicated that municipal governments and state governments both contributed 44% of funding for public schools, accounting for 88% of all public school funding. The remaining 12% was contributed by the federal government. Operational Costs In the...