(EDL 744) Educational Finance and Economic Issues
Syllabus of Record
Catalog Description: This course emphasizes theories of economics, finance and taxation
as applied to educational complexities pervasive in the fiscal management and operations of
public schools. It focuses on current political and economic issues affecting public schools
and is designed to promote thoughtful decision-making by school administrators with
respect to school financial matters. Three credits.
Unit Mission, Philosophy, Values:
Our Mission:
“Teaching, Leading and Learning in a Democratic Society”
The College of Education prepares candidates who enhance the individual growth of their
students while working to establish policies and practices that promote the principles of
democratic education. The College articulates this mission as Teaching, Leading, and
Learning in a Democratic Society.
Philosophy:
Student Potential, Ethical Implications
Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of
individuals, the College of Education prepares teachers and leaders
a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students
b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.
Values:
“Expertise, Equity, Liberal Education, Social Responsibility”
The College of Education values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our
interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide
our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of
candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we
serve.
Unit and Program Standards:
Common Unit Standards: Michigan Department of Education (MDE), This course supports the
Standards for Advanced Programs in Educational Leadership as developed by the Educational
Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC), a constituent member of the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Specialty Program Standards: Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC)
Course Standards and Assessments:
Course Standards:
 Demonstrate effective organization of fiscal, human, and material
resources, giving priority to student learning and safety, and
demonstrating an understanding of district budgeting processes and
fiduciary responsibilities?(ELCC Standard 3.1)
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Demonstrate an ability to manage time effectively and to deploy financial
and human resources in a way that promotes student achievement? (ELCC
Standard 3.1)
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Demonstrate the ability to organize a district based on indicators of
equity, effectiveness, and efficiency and can apply legal principles that
promote educational equity? (ELCC Standard 3.1)
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Demonstrate an understanding of how to apply legal principles to promote
educational equity and provide a safe, effective, and efficient facility?
(ELCC Standard 3.1)
Demonstrate the ability to involve stakeholders in aligning resources and
priorities to maximize ownership and accountability? (ELCC Standard 3.2)
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Use appropriate and effective needs assessment, research-based data,
and group process skills to build consensus, communicate, and resolve
conflicts in order to align resources with the district vision? (ELCC
Standard 3.2)
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Develop staff communication plans for integrating a district’s schools and
divisions? (ELCC Standard 3.2)
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Develop a plan to promote and support community collaboration among
district personnel?
(ELCC Standard 3.2)
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To use problem-solving skills and knowledge of strategic, long-range, and
operational planning (including applications of technology) in the effective,
legal, and equitable use of fiscal, human, and material resource allocation
that focuses on teaching and learning? (ELCC Standard 3.3)
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Creatively seek new resources to facilitate learning? (ELCC Standard 3.3)
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Apply an understanding of school district finance structures and models to
ensure that adequate financial resources are allocated equitably for the
district? (ELCC Standard 3.3)
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Apply and assess current technologies for management, business
procedures, and scheduling? (ELCC Standard 3.3)
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Demonstrate the ability to facilitate the planning and implementation of
programs and services that bring together the resources of families and
the community to positively affect student learning? (ELCC Standard 4.1)
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Demonstrate the ability to communicate regularly with all segments of the
district community concerning trends, issues, and policies affecting the
district? (ELCC Standard 6.2)
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Demonstrate an understanding of how to develop lines of communication
with local, state, and federal authorities and actively advocate for
improved policies, laws, and regulations affecting a specific district, both
directly and through organizations representing schools, educators, or
others with similar interests? (ELCC Standard 6.3)

Demonstrate the ability to advocate for policies and programs that
promote equitable learning opportunities and success for all students,
regardless of socioeconomic background, ethnicity, gender, disability, or
other individual characteristics? (ELCC Standard 6.3)
Common Assessment: FINAL EXAM: Candidates are required to pass a final exam that focuses
on district-level finance development, issues, and developing innovative ways to address the
overall financial needs of the school district.
Major Topics:
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Proposal A Background
School Funding Basics
Fund structure-General, Debt Service, Capital Projects, School Service, Activity
Funds
Revenues, expenditures, financial statements, and fund balance
Budgeting process
Pupil accounting
Capital financing
Enrollment and demographics
Trend – increasing, declining, stable
Non-resident, schools of choice, charters
State Revenue Estimating Conference
Employee cost burden
Total compensation concept
Health care costs
Pension obligation and legacy costs
Operating versus capital
Financing
Equity
Expenditure analysis
Classroom and instructional focus
“Backroom operations”
Privatization of support services
Michigan economy
Statistics
Trends
Michigan tax structure
Governor’s State of the State
Governor’s Budget Proposal
Course Knowledge Base:
Michigan’s Economic Future – Charles L. Ballard
Provided by Mackinac Center for Public Policy A Michigan School Money Primer – Ryan S.
Olson and Michael D. LaFaive
Materials from the following websites:
Citizens Research Council: http://www.crcmich.org/index.html
Mackinac Center for Public Policy: http://www.mackinac.org/
Mackinac Center Revenue and Expenditure Analysis:
http://www.mackinac.org/depts/epi/fiscal.aspx
Michigan Department of Education: http://www.michigan.gov/mde
Michigan State University Educational Policy Center: http://www.epc.msu.edu/
Standard and Poor’s: http://www.schoolmatters.com/
Off The Record: http://wkar.org/offtherecord/
Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/index.htm
Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/
Lansing State Journal: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/