david i. backer
@schooldaves.bsky.social
associate prof of education policy. former high school teacher. education, ideology, policy, finance, climate, socialism. he/him. https://linktr.ee/davidibacker
It’s very clear in school finance: in a context of declining birth rates and enrollments the more students there are the more per pupil grants from state governments—and also ofc the more vibrant and generative experience among and between students/families. Immigration is good.
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It’s very clear in school finance: in a context of declining birth rates and enrollments the more students there are the more per pupil grants from state governments—and also ofc the more vibrant and generative experience among and between students/families. Immigration is good.
Reposted by david i. backer
Congrats on the book! Will check it out
November 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Congrats on the book! Will check it out
❤️❤️❤️curious to know what you think!!
November 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
❤️❤️❤️curious to know what you think!!
Reposted by david i. backer
Reposted by david i. backer
2 kinds of answers . Maybe 3. 1st, the other best books I’ve read in the past five years — in some order/combo:
1.) Yours, and not just saying that
2.) Rosa, *Looking Like a Language, Sounding Like a Race*
3.) Bonilla, “Non-Sovereign Futures"
4.) @schooldaves.bsky.social “As Public As Possible."
1.) Yours, and not just saying that
2.) Rosa, *Looking Like a Language, Sounding Like a Race*
3.) Bonilla, “Non-Sovereign Futures"
4.) @schooldaves.bsky.social “As Public As Possible."
November 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
2 kinds of answers . Maybe 3. 1st, the other best books I’ve read in the past five years — in some order/combo:
1.) Yours, and not just saying that
2.) Rosa, *Looking Like a Language, Sounding Like a Race*
3.) Bonilla, “Non-Sovereign Futures"
4.) @schooldaves.bsky.social “As Public As Possible."
1.) Yours, and not just saying that
2.) Rosa, *Looking Like a Language, Sounding Like a Race*
3.) Bonilla, “Non-Sovereign Futures"
4.) @schooldaves.bsky.social “As Public As Possible."
13. There's more coming soon! /end
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
13. There's more coming soon! /end
12. There’s a sizeable increase in charter school spending (27914)between 2024 and 2025, which increased by $35 million to $323 million. Why?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
12. There’s a sizeable increase in charter school spending (27914)between 2024 and 2025, which increased by $35 million to $323 million. Why?
11. The School Construction Authority’s line (41905), is very wacky: the revenue in 2024 was $188 million and then decreases tenfold to $10 million 2025, with a modified budget amount of even less, at $68 million. I know that the SCA is way behind on its targets for seat construction, but...
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
11. The School Construction Authority’s line (41905), is very wacky: the revenue in 2024 was $188 million and then decreases tenfold to $10 million 2025, with a modified budget amount of even less, at $68 million. I know that the SCA is way behind on its targets for seat construction, but...
10. I’m interested in debt and school infrastructure, which we can see in the following: Pollution Remediation—Bond Sales (45001) at $110.7 million—wonder what that is?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
10. I’m interested in debt and school infrastructure, which we can see in the following: Pollution Remediation—Bond Sales (45001) at $110.7 million—wonder what that is?
9. ECIA Title 1 (13912) is next at $994 million, and there’s a big swing from the adopted budget to to the modified budget for this stream, to the tune of roughly $250 million. Wonder why? Is this federal bullshit?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
9. ECIA Title 1 (13912) is next at $994 million, and there’s a big swing from the adopted budget to to the modified budget for this stream, to the tune of roughly $250 million. Wonder why? Is this federal bullshit?
8. In 2024, the Education Stabilization Fund (14720) had more than $2 billion in it, but the 2025 number is blank. Why?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
8. In 2024, the Education Stabilization Fund (14720) had more than $2 billion in it, but the 2025 number is blank. Why?
7. Now I’d like to look at some specific numbers above, starting with the biggest: Foundation Aid (29358) is nearly $10 billion. That’s the big pot of money going out for operational expenditures, combining state aid (40%) with local tax revenues (56%). www.ibo.nyc.gov/content/publ...
Independent Budget Office
www.ibo.nyc.gov
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
7. Now I’d like to look at some specific numbers above, starting with the biggest: Foundation Aid (29358) is nearly $10 billion. That’s the big pot of money going out for operational expenditures, combining state aid (40%) with local tax revenues (56%). www.ibo.nyc.gov/content/publ...
6. So the 2025 total modified expenditure on the DOE side was $16.4 billion, with an actual revenue of $16.15 billion. That leaves a gap/shortfall in the hundreds of millions, wonder what’s up with that? And how does this number differ from the $37 billion number before?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
6. So the 2025 total modified expenditure on the DOE side was $16.4 billion, with an actual revenue of $16.15 billion. That leaves a gap/shortfall in the hundreds of millions, wonder what’s up with that? And how does this number differ from the $37 billion number before?
5. The accounting number is 040, and through it we see all the things the DOE spent on in 2025:
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
5. The accounting number is 040, and through it we see all the things the DOE spent on in 2025:
4. But I'm here to look at school finance, so let’s look at the overall statement of activities for the whole city, which is the hundreds of billions. Education is about $37.5 billion. What’s in that number, specifically for the DOE?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
4. But I'm here to look at school finance, so let’s look at the overall statement of activities for the whole city, which is the hundreds of billions. Education is about $37.5 billion. What’s in that number, specifically for the DOE?