School Fundraising: Leveling the Playing Field or Advantaging the Advantaged?

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Date

2005-06

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The Ohio State University

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Abstract

In this study, I examine the mechanics of fundraising in three diverse elementary schools. Through semi-structured interviews with principals and a Parent Teacher Organization president, I explore the differences in school fundraising between a school with a high per pupil expenditure, a low per pupil expenditure, and a school with an above average per pupil expenditure but that has a disproportional number of economically disadvantaged students. My findings suggest that schools raise different amounts of money with different degrees of difficulty, but the greatest difference in schools is their financial starting points. I contend that school fundraising highlights the great inequalities in American school.

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Senior Honors Thesis, Department of Sociology

Keywords

sociology, education

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