Percents and Fairness in School Funding Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary Review Sheet

Lesson – Percents and Fairness in School Funding

How to Use

• Read each word carefully before your quiz.
• Use the math, real-life, and fairness examples to connect what numbers show to what fairness means in education.
• Remember: Percentages help us compare fairly — they show how much more or less one school gets, no matter how big the numbers are.
• Keep this sheet in your Equity in Numbers Student Journal as a review tool.

Percent

• Definition: A number that shows a part out of 100; it compares one value to another fairly.
• Math Examples:
  • 25% = 25 out of 100
  • 20% = 20 ÷ 100 = 0.20
  • 13% = 13 ÷ 100 = 0.13
• Real-Life Example: District B receives 25% less funding than District A.
• Fairness Example: Percents help show which districts are falling behind and how far they need to go for fair funding.

Funding

• Definition: Money given to support schools, programs, or students.
• Math Examples:
  • $12,000 per student
  • $9,000 per student
  • $8,000 per student
• Real-Life Example: School funding pays for teachers, books, and classroom supplies.
• Fairness Example: More funding means more resources — fair funding ensures every student has what they need to succeed.

Difference

• Definition: The amount that one value is greater or smaller than another; found by subtraction.
• Math Examples:
  • 12,000 − 9,000 = 3,000
  • 10,000 − 8,000 = 2,000
  • 11,500 − 10,000 = 1,500
• Real-Life Example: The difference shows how much more one district can spend per student.
• Fairness Example: Differences reveal where gaps exist so we can target funds to schools that have less.

Divide

• Definition: To split a number into equal parts; used to find the ratio for percent.
• Math Examples:
  • 3,000 ÷ 12,000 = 0.25
  • 2,000 ÷ 10,000 = 0.20
  • 1,500 ÷ 11,500 ≈ 0.13
• Real-Life Example: Dividing shows what fraction of funding one district receives compared to another.
• Fairness Example: Division helps calculate fair shares so each district gets proportional support.

Base

• Definition: The larger or original number used for comparison when finding percent change.
• Math Examples:
  • 12,000 is the base when comparing 9,000 ÷ 12,000 = 0.75
  • 10,000 is the base when comparing 8,000 ÷ 10,000 = 0.80
  • 11,500 is the base when comparing 10,000 ÷ 11,500 ≈ 0.87
• Real-Life Example: The base amount is the higher-funded district used to measure the difference.
• Fairness Example: Using the correct base ensures comparisons are honest and fair.

Percent Difference

• Definition: The amount of change between two values expressed as a percentage.
• Math Examples:
  • (12,000 − 9,000) ÷ 12,000 × 100 = 25%
  • (10,000 − 8,000) ÷ 10,000 × 100 = 20%
  • (11,500 − 10,000) ÷ 11,500 × 100 ≈ 13%
• Real-Life Example: Percent difference shows how much less one district receives than another.
• Fairness Example: Large percent differences reveal funding inequities that affect student opportunities.

Increase / Decrease

• Definition: An increase means funding goes up; a decrease means it goes down.
• Math Examples:
  • 8,000 → 10,000 = +25% increase
  • 12,000 → 9,000 = −25% decrease
  • 10,000 → 8,000 = −20% decrease
• Real-Life Example: A 25% decrease in funding means fewer resources for students.
• Fairness Example: Monitoring increases and decreases helps make sure every school improves together.

Compare

• Definition: To look at two or more values and decide which is greater, smaller, or equal.
• Math Examples:
  • 25% > 20%
  • 13% < 20%
  • 9,000 < 12,000
• Real-Life Example: Comparing funding levels shows which districts are better supported.
• Fairness Example: Comparing helps educators discuss fairness using data, not opinions.

Gap

• Definition: The space or difference between two amounts — in this case, funding levels.
• Math Examples:
  • $12,000 − $9,000 = $3,000
  • $10,000 − $8,000 = $2,000
  • $11,500 − $10,000 = $1,500
• Real-Life Example: A $3,000 gap per student means one school can afford newer materials than another.
• Fairness Example: Closing the gap means ensuring all schools have equal access to quality education.

Equity

• Definition: Giving every school what it needs so that all students can succeed, even if some need more.
• Math Examples:
  • Add 25% more funding to close a 25% gap.
  • Add 20% support to match district averages.
  • Adjust 13% to reach parity.
• Real-Life Example: Equity funding helps under-resourced schools buy technology, hire staff, or improve buildings.
• Fairness Example: True equity means the percent of need is matched by the percent of support.

Summary of Math + Fairness Connections

Concept	Math Focus	Fairness Connection
Percent	Compares fairly	Reveals inequality size
Difference & Divide	Finds ratio of change	Measures fairness accurately
Percent Difference	Converts to easy-to-read format	Quantifies inequity
Gap	Shows missing resources	Highlights opportunity divide
Equity	Balances numbers	Ensures every student thrives