WGU D023 School Financial Leadership Exam Questions and Correct Verified
Answers|Latest 2025|100% PASS
1st Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The period of local district
financial responsibility, with little or no assistance from the state
-used to be local or church
-rate bills or tuition
-problem in equity
2nd Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The period of emerging state
responsibility, with the use of flat grants, subventions, and other nonequalizing state
allocations to local districts
-state to supplement local tax revenues to provide acceptable programs
3rd Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The emergence of the Strayer-
Haig concept of a foundation program (minimum program)
-Each local district would levy the amount of local tax that was required in the richest district
of the state to provide a foundation, or minimum, program. The rich district would receive
no state funds; the other districts would receive state funds necessary to provide the
foundation program.
4th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The period of refinement of
the foundation program concept
-use of flat grants
-question to take money from wealthy districts to equalize
,5th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-"Power" or "open-end"
(shared costs) equalization practices
-20th century
Equalization -CORRECT ANSWER-state and local districts began exercising a degree of
partnership in establishing and paying for a basic program of education for every school-age
child in the state—at least in theory. In practice, the link between funding and program
quality was questionable.
open-ended, or shared-cost, equalization plan -CORRECT ANSWER-the percentage of this
program to be paid by each individual district and by the state. This percentage of state
funds would be high for poor districts and low for wealthier ones. Once that determination
has been made for each district, the same partnership ratio would be maintained to pay the
total cost of the school program in each district
-Harlan Updegraff
6th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The shift of emphasis and
influence, and funding for special need
-economic factors influenced (wars, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, fluctuating prices in
energy, had to rethink budget and safety of schools
7th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-A focus on adequacy in
education finance
-court cases
-sufficient funding is needed to meet state laws, standards, and requirements, and must be
constitutionally enforceable
-CCSS
Foundational funding -CORRECT ANSWER-The state provides a minimal level of funding as a
guarantee per student expenditure. The intent of this system is to counteract the disparity of
wealth across various districts of a state.
, Common School Era -CORRECT ANSWER-Local school districts were formed to support the
education of the local population, many of whom were the children of immigrants. In order
to accommodate this influx of educational need with limited personal resources, local
property taxes became mandated to support public schools.
Early Colonial Schooling -CORRECT ANSWER-Funded through tuition or rate changes,
primarily as a funding of the local community or church of that community.
Funding for public schools is directly addressed in which document? -CORRECT ANSWER-
State Constitution
-The funding and operation of public schools is directly addressed in each state's
constitution. Access to education and the quality are different depending upon how the
state defines its language. For example, a "right" to education is different than a "goal" to
educate all citizens. A "right" provides grounds for equity and equality litigation while a
"goal" may provide more flexibility in disparity.
What is meant by pupil expenditure? -CORRECT ANSWER-The pupil expenditure is the total
expense accounted for by that specific student. For example, this funding amount includes
but is not limited to: personnel expenses (salary, benefits, and other human resource
expenses), transportation costs (gas, busses, oil, personnel), facility expenses (building
construction, maintenance, utilities, insurance), and instructional resources (books, supplies,
technology, materials). The amount of this pupil expenditure will vary as the cost of living
changes for the location, but in many states the "foundational per pupil expenditure" is a
guaranteed amount per pupil. In instances where the local funding is insufficient, it is
supplemented by the state.
Financial disparity -CORRECT ANSWER-
Financial adequacy -CORRECT ANSWER-
Financial productivity -CORRECT ANSWER-
Federal Funding -CORRECT ANSWER-Federal aid continues to be provided in the form of
categorical aid. Yet, it may be time for a larger federal role in financing schools. The largest
Answers|Latest 2025|100% PASS
1st Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The period of local district
financial responsibility, with little or no assistance from the state
-used to be local or church
-rate bills or tuition
-problem in equity
2nd Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The period of emerging state
responsibility, with the use of flat grants, subventions, and other nonequalizing state
allocations to local districts
-state to supplement local tax revenues to provide acceptable programs
3rd Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The emergence of the Strayer-
Haig concept of a foundation program (minimum program)
-Each local district would levy the amount of local tax that was required in the richest district
of the state to provide a foundation, or minimum, program. The rich district would receive
no state funds; the other districts would receive state funds necessary to provide the
foundation program.
4th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The period of refinement of
the foundation program concept
-use of flat grants
-question to take money from wealthy districts to equalize
,5th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-"Power" or "open-end"
(shared costs) equalization practices
-20th century
Equalization -CORRECT ANSWER-state and local districts began exercising a degree of
partnership in establishing and paying for a basic program of education for every school-age
child in the state—at least in theory. In practice, the link between funding and program
quality was questionable.
open-ended, or shared-cost, equalization plan -CORRECT ANSWER-the percentage of this
program to be paid by each individual district and by the state. This percentage of state
funds would be high for poor districts and low for wealthier ones. Once that determination
has been made for each district, the same partnership ratio would be maintained to pay the
total cost of the school program in each district
-Harlan Updegraff
6th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-The shift of emphasis and
influence, and funding for special need
-economic factors influenced (wars, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, fluctuating prices in
energy, had to rethink budget and safety of schools
7th Development Stage of School Finance -CORRECT ANSWER-A focus on adequacy in
education finance
-court cases
-sufficient funding is needed to meet state laws, standards, and requirements, and must be
constitutionally enforceable
-CCSS
Foundational funding -CORRECT ANSWER-The state provides a minimal level of funding as a
guarantee per student expenditure. The intent of this system is to counteract the disparity of
wealth across various districts of a state.
, Common School Era -CORRECT ANSWER-Local school districts were formed to support the
education of the local population, many of whom were the children of immigrants. In order
to accommodate this influx of educational need with limited personal resources, local
property taxes became mandated to support public schools.
Early Colonial Schooling -CORRECT ANSWER-Funded through tuition or rate changes,
primarily as a funding of the local community or church of that community.
Funding for public schools is directly addressed in which document? -CORRECT ANSWER-
State Constitution
-The funding and operation of public schools is directly addressed in each state's
constitution. Access to education and the quality are different depending upon how the
state defines its language. For example, a "right" to education is different than a "goal" to
educate all citizens. A "right" provides grounds for equity and equality litigation while a
"goal" may provide more flexibility in disparity.
What is meant by pupil expenditure? -CORRECT ANSWER-The pupil expenditure is the total
expense accounted for by that specific student. For example, this funding amount includes
but is not limited to: personnel expenses (salary, benefits, and other human resource
expenses), transportation costs (gas, busses, oil, personnel), facility expenses (building
construction, maintenance, utilities, insurance), and instructional resources (books, supplies,
technology, materials). The amount of this pupil expenditure will vary as the cost of living
changes for the location, but in many states the "foundational per pupil expenditure" is a
guaranteed amount per pupil. In instances where the local funding is insufficient, it is
supplemented by the state.
Financial disparity -CORRECT ANSWER-
Financial adequacy -CORRECT ANSWER-
Financial productivity -CORRECT ANSWER-
Federal Funding -CORRECT ANSWER-Federal aid continues to be provided in the form of
categorical aid. Yet, it may be time for a larger federal role in financing schools. The largest
