New Book: Designed to Fail: Why Racial Equity in School Funding Is So Hard to Achieve

Posted by on March 12, 2024

For people who care about urban school districts like Philadelphia’s, addressing the challenges that these schools face often boils down to the need for more money. But why are urban districts that serve Black and Brown students still so perennially underfunded compared to majority-white ones?

Designed to Fail: Why Racial Equity in School Funding Is So Hard to Achieve provides an inside look at the Pennsylvania state legislature and campaigns for fair funding to show how those responsible for the distribution of school funding work to maintain the privileges of majority-white school districts.

Here’s what advance reviewers have said:

“Designed to Fail is a profoundly original, remarkably rigorous, and desperately needed text. Through rich ethnographic inquiry, augmented by careful policy analysis, this book destroys the veneer of colorblindness. Beyond her brilliant analysis of our present crisis, Liu generously provides a clear and actionable strategy for transforming educational policy. This is a must-read text for scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and anyone committed to educational justice.” – Marc Lamont Hill, author of Seen and Unseen

“America has failed to keep two promises to its students—to desegregate their schools and to fund them equitably. Liu digs deeply into the funding inequities that exist in one state, Pennsylvania, that serves as a template for almost every state. This is an important book.” – Gloria Ladson Billings, author of Justice Matters

Designed to Fail: Why Racial Equity in School Funding Is So Hard to Achieve by Roseann Liu is available for purchase here.

Consider inviting the author to speak: the author would be happy to give a presentation or be in conversation with others about issues of race and school funding. Contact the author, Roseann Liu at roseannliu@gmail.com.