Assessing the impact of perceived school board effectiveness on financing k-12 education in tennessee

Education funding has been a significant concern of both providers and consumers of the educational system in the United States for many generations. This expenditure accounts for the single largest allocation in most state and local government budgets; and scholars, practitioners, and the general public often question whether or not American students are getting the most “bang for their buck”. While school board members are not responsible for the allocation of revenues from federal, state, and local governments, these individuals are directly responsible for the distribution of these funds for the operation of local schools within their districts. The purpose of this study is to determine if school board members in Tennessee understand the role they play in allocating educational finances which ultimately influence student achievement. The results of this analysis suggest that the perceptions of school board members in Tennessee are not always reflective of the actual outcomes when real data is examined regarding school district expenditures.