An evidence-based approach to determining and adequate site-level administrative staffing model: A California school finance adequacy study

This study traces the history of school finance; discuss the transition from equity to adequacy, and reviews what research says about the administrative needs at a school site level. As education focuses on a standards based system, many have questioned whether the school and/or school districts are prepared to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. At the heart of the discussion is the debate over whether states provide adequate funding to enable school districts to meet the new mandates. To fully understand the costs of adequacy, a number of states have conducted costing out studies whose purpose is to estimate the appropriate level of funding needed. These studies are often conducted as the result of successful litigation on the part of plaintiff school districts that have sued their state over the adequacy of funding levels for the students enrolled in their schools. At the present time there are four models used to determine adequate expenditure levels---(1) Cost Function Model, (2) Successful Schools Model, (3) Professional Judgment Model, and the (4) Evidence Based Approach.;This study uses a modified Evidence Based approach to investigate school expenditure patterns (non-instructional), resources allocations for the administrative staffing needs at the elementary, middle and high school level across Los Angeles County. The study consists of analysis of financial documents submitted by school districts within the state of California to the state department of education and interviews of 12 principals of schools that were eligible or were past winners of the California Distinguished School Award from the years 2003 to 2005.;The study suggests the need for a principal, assistant principal, and the importance of an adequately staffed classified personnel. In addition, the study offers the estimated level of funding needed to ensure adequacy at the school site level.