There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal this morning. Residents of affluent school districts in Kansas have sued to overturn state rules that limit their ability to raise taxes and increase school spending. “Kansas is one of a handful of states that limit how much money local school districts can raise from property taxes—a restriction to ensure a rough parity in spending across the state,” according to this source. “Lawyers for Kansas Republican Gov. Sam Brownback noted that parents can spend as much as they want on their children's education through private tutors. But courts in Kansas and across the U.S. have repeatedly held that states have an obligation to ensure equity—or at least, get as close as possible—at public schools…The state's position has drawn strong support from parents and school administrators in poor districts across Kansas.”
While only a handful of states have the same limitations as Kansas, most states have much more equal school financing than New York. In many southern states, in fact, school districts cover entire counties while in the Midwest states cover a much larger part of the school bill. Tabulations of school spending inequality that I have read, ironically, always have the true Blue States of the Northeast and West coasts with the most unequal school funding, and the Red States with the least. Perhaps that explains “liberal guilt.” The liberals are guilty, and in the past used to feel that way.