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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Do Texas Charter Schools Receive More Funding Than the State’s School Districts?
Charter schools receive about $813 less per pupil on average than traditional public schools, a discrepancy that is driven by facilities funding.
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How Should States Count Students to Calculate School Funding?
School finance systems should base education funding on current enrollment figures to best serve students and promote equity.
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Examining Legislation to Expand Open Enrollment in Arizona
Arizona lawmakers are looking to remove barriers preventing public school students from attending a school outside of their residentially assigned school district as well as more easily find transportation to their school of choice.
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Infographic: Texas Charter Funding Gap
Public charter schools in Texas receive an average of 7 percent less education funding than the state's public school districts.
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Examining Student Funding in Texas Charter Schools and Traditional Public Schools
Texas students who choose to attend a charter school receive $813 fewer dollars, on average, compared to peers in traditional public schools.
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Fiscal Explainer: Texas Charter School Funding Analysis
Between 2015 and 2019, the inflation-adjusted funding gap between public charter schools and traditional public schools grew by about 36 percent—from $596 per pupil to $813 per pupil.
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Modernizing School Finance in Idaho
This policy brief provides a brief overview of Idaho’s school finance system, highlights its primary shortcomings, and makes several recommendations for reform.
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Infographic: How Student-Centered Funding Works and How to Get There
How policymakers can align education funding with students' needs.
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Inform: Give Stakeholders The Information They Need to Make Sound Education Funding Decisions
Financial transparency can help leaders get the most out of education dollars while shining light on their spending decisions.