Aaron Garth Smith is the director of education reform at Reason Foundation.
Smith works extensively on education finance policy and his writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including National Review, The Hill, and Education Week.
Smith graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor's degree in business administration and earned a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. He is based in Phoenix, Arizona.
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School Districts Shortchange Disadvantaged Students
Without transparent funding and school-level financial data available, it is impossible for parents and the public to account for taxpayer dollars going to education.
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Student-Based Budgeting Newsletter, December 2015
“Great leaders need to be making those decisions about their schools. They have the local context. They know their students. We want to have the ability to make decisions about how to support them.”
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Improving Santa Ana Schools Have a Long Way to Go
Allowing schools to operate with less bureaucracy and real accountability via portfolio management could transform education in Santa Ana and across the state.
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Student-Based Budgeting Newsletter, October 2015
“The one-size-fits-all approach is about equality. Equity is about treating every student as they need to be treated.”
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Student-Based Budgeting Newsletter, September 2015
Our goal is to give principals and school leadership control over as many resources as possible to personalize their school design.”
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Student-Based Budgeting Helps Principals Be More Effective Educators
Some school districts fear budget autonomy will distract principals but are finding it actually helps principals identify what is working and what is needed at their schools
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Student-Based Budgeting Newsletter, August 2015
"Student-based budgeting isn't about the dollar amount. It's about the ability to design a school."