Which level of government provides the majority of public elementary and secondary school funding?

The majority of public elementary and secondary school funding is provided by state governments. States allocate funds for education through various revenue sources, such as income and sales taxes, along with state-specific education funding formulas. This funding typically covers the largest portion of a school's budget, supporting not only teacher salaries but also educational materials and facility maintenance.

While local governments also contribute significantly to school funding, particularly through property taxes, the overall predominant source is from the state level. The federal government contributes only a small fraction of funding for public education, which varies from year to year but generally constitutes around 8-10% of total funding. The term "national" is synonymous with federal here and does not represent a separate government level.

This understanding aligns with the framework of public education finance, where state governments play a critical role in ensuring that funding is equitable and adequate to meet the educational needs of all students.