The gap in per-pupil funding between district schools and charter schools continues to narrow thanks to past efforts and recent legislation.
In 2004, district schools received about $1,005 per student more than charters, a 13.9 percent difference. That gap has since been reduced to $683, a 9.9 percent difference, according to a Utah Foundation report released Wednesday.
And next year, that gap is expected to narrow even further by $193 thanks to legislation that lawmakers passed this year.
But the two school systems are different by design, and some funding differences will continue to exist. That doesn’t necessarily mean one is at a disadvantage from the other, according to Shawn Teigen, research director at the foundation.
“Ultimately, these are two different systems, and trying to say that there is a lack of equity between them is kind of futile. It’s a fool’s errand, because there are so many differences,” Teigen said. “They’re just different animals.”
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