Analyzing School Finance Policy

This paper analyzes school finance policy (SFP) using an alternative hermeneutic approach
along the line of fairness. This approach, in comparison with the quantitative approach,
guides toward a better understanding of the tensions between the de jure and de facto policies.
The analysis focuses on Israel as an interesting case study since its SFP was currently
reformed. To this end, trends in legislation, Ministry-of-Education publications, and the Israeli
Parliament’s protocols were analyzed. The findings reveal that an SFP is a disharmonic composition
of “voices” that affects student outcomes. These findings are relevant to countries with
high population diversity who wish to improve their educational attainment.