Adequate Yearly Progress as a Means of Funding Public Elementary and Secondary Education for Impoverished Students: Florida Funding

The purpose of this research was to address the public policy of adequacy by the creation of a Florida state-wide poverty index model to assist in the distribution of state and local dollars in funding public education. This poverty index model would measure the amount and severity of poverty in every public school within the state each year and determine how much money should be allocated to each school beyond the basic allocation now in existence by using Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) data. This poverty index model would address the funding for schools with a disproportionate percentage of students living in poverty. A weighted formula was developed to increase funding to Florida students focused on addressing poverty and supplemental indicators. The creation of this funding index could be utilized by the state legislature in determining an adequate funding level for all public elementary and secondary students in the state and, thus, to enhance the Florida Education Finance Plan (FEFP).