Christian Barnard
Senior Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
Christian Barnard is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
Barnard's work includes research and analysis of state education and school district finance systems, with the goal of making them more equitable and innovative.
Barnard's writing has been featured in outlets including USA Today, Los Angeles Daily News, Washington Times, and The Hill, among others.
Barnard previously worked with the Foundation for Government Accountability, where he conducted research on labor policy and criminal justice. He also worked for the Pioneer Institute.
He holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and economics from Messiah College.
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Why teacher salaries are flat as school spending soars
Benefit costs, staffing trends and class sizes may explain why teacher salaries have remained flat while K-12 education spending has grown.
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Recapping Tennessee’s historic school finance reform
The 2022 reform was a major positive shift in how Tennessee funds public education.
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Nebraska’s K-12 education funding system lacks transparency, relies too heavily on property taxes
Nebraska ranks third in the nation for the proportion of total K-12 public school revenues it derives from local revenue sources.
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Nebraska K-12 Education Funding Reform Model
Nebraska K-12 Funding Reform Model allows users to simulate how changes to the state’s school funding system might affect each school district in the state.
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How K-12 support services spending can divert education funding from instruction
Nationally, per pupil support services expenditures grew by 25% from 2002 to 2020, outpacing growth in per pupil instructional expenditures, which increased by 20% over the same period.
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How inflation could impact public school finances
High inflation poses several challenges for public schools, particularly when it comes to labor negotiations.
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What states can learn from Arizona’s new student transportation law
State policymakers can work to remove restrictions on the types of vehicles schools can use to transport students and reform licensing rules that prevent schools from hiring qualified drivers.
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Modeling Arizona education funding reform scenarios
This analysis models how changes to Arizona's school finance system would impact the state's school districts, charter schools and overall K-12 budget.
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Can the next mayor of LA help the city’s failing school district?
The most pressing problems facing LAUSD are declining enrollment and an increasingly unsustainable budget.