david i. backer
@schooldaves.bsky.social
associate prof of education policy. former high school teacher. education, ideology, policy, finance, climate, socialism. he/him. https://linktr.ee/davidibacker
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As Public As Possible: Radical Finance for America's Public Schools | David Backer
Education expert David I. Backer argues for radically expanding the "public" in public schools. Discover a concrete set of policies to provide a truly public education for all, regardless of wealth an...
www.aspublicaspossiblebook.com
my book is officially out! you can get it here! www.aspublicaspossiblebook.com
Tfw when you’re a guest after @davidharvey.org
February 13, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Tfw when you’re a guest after @davidharvey.org
Interviewed by the one and only Doug Henwood!
fresh audio product:
• Stacy Horn @stacyhorn.bsky.social on the damage mortgage fraud did to East New York
• David Backer @schooldaves.bsky.social on how we finance schools and how we could do better
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
• Stacy Horn @stacyhorn.bsky.social on the damage mortgage fraud did to East New York
• David Backer @schooldaves.bsky.social on how we finance schools and how we could do better
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
February 12, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Interviewed by the one and only Doug Henwood!
Reposted by david i. backer
fresh audio product:
• Stacy Horn @stacyhorn.bsky.social on the damage mortgage fraud did to East New York
• David Backer @schooldaves.bsky.social on how we finance schools and how we could do better
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
• Stacy Horn @stacyhorn.bsky.social on the damage mortgage fraud did to East New York
• David Backer @schooldaves.bsky.social on how we finance schools and how we could do better
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
February 12, 2026 at 11:10 PM
fresh audio product:
• Stacy Horn @stacyhorn.bsky.social on the damage mortgage fraud did to East New York
• David Backer @schooldaves.bsky.social on how we finance schools and how we could do better
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
• Stacy Horn @stacyhorn.bsky.social on the damage mortgage fraud did to East New York
• David Backer @schooldaves.bsky.social on how we finance schools and how we could do better
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
School districts across the country have budget crises. The easy explanation is that enrollments are declining and federal relief from the pandemic stopped. But underneath those recent developments are deeper dynamics I see when taking requests to analyze them: property values, debt, pensions, eg.
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
School districts across the country have budget crises. The easy explanation is that enrollments are declining and federal relief from the pandemic stopped. But underneath those recent developments are deeper dynamics I see when taking requests to analyze them: property values, debt, pensions, eg.
Reposted by david i. backer
“…it’s not just the poor who pay more. It’s not just that. It’s actually that they also get less somehow.”
@schooldaves.bsky.social
#PublicSchool
HT
@moneyontheleft.bsky.social
@jabaribrisport.bsky.social
@lindseyboylan.bsky.social
@delgadoforny.bsky.social
@indiab.bsky.social
@nharnie.bsky.social
@schooldaves.bsky.social
#PublicSchool
HT
@moneyontheleft.bsky.social
@jabaribrisport.bsky.social
@lindseyboylan.bsky.social
@delgadoforny.bsky.social
@indiab.bsky.social
@nharnie.bsky.social
February 10, 2026 at 1:48 PM
“…it’s not just the poor who pay more. It’s not just that. It’s actually that they also get less somehow.”
@schooldaves.bsky.social
#PublicSchool
HT
@moneyontheleft.bsky.social
@jabaribrisport.bsky.social
@lindseyboylan.bsky.social
@delgadoforny.bsky.social
@indiab.bsky.social
@nharnie.bsky.social
@schooldaves.bsky.social
#PublicSchool
HT
@moneyontheleft.bsky.social
@jabaribrisport.bsky.social
@lindseyboylan.bsky.social
@delgadoforny.bsky.social
@indiab.bsky.social
@nharnie.bsky.social
The first I’m hearing of a century bond (paid back in full after 100 years) sold by tech companies. Google just did it in England. Crazy. I know there was a century bond in DC for a new water system.
February 9, 2026 at 5:46 PM
The first I’m hearing of a century bond (paid back in full after 100 years) sold by tech companies. Google just did it in England. Crazy. I know there was a century bond in DC for a new water system.
This one blew up and I didn’t even have the link yet. Here’s the post: buttondown.com/davidibacker...
February 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM
This one blew up and I didn’t even have the link yet. Here’s the post: buttondown.com/davidibacker...
Reposted by david i. backer
Says that federal detention facilities are “nicer than some of the elementary schools” that educate the kids he’s elected to represent, and says that to help support his case that it’s okay to detain five year olds. Just fully lobotomized.
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Says that federal detention facilities are “nicer than some of the elementary schools” that educate the kids he’s elected to represent, and says that to help support his case that it’s okay to detain five year olds. Just fully lobotomized.
Reposted by david i. backer
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, watchdog says
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
n.pr
February 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
Reposted by david i. backer
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
February 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
Reposted by david i. backer
After I finish your book, perhaps we can talk more!
February 6, 2026 at 1:51 PM
After I finish your book, perhaps we can talk more!
Solidarity! I think jointures and tax base sharing are interesting local-level policies that could be put in place. Kansas has been at the forefront of school finance stuff over time!
February 6, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Solidarity! I think jointures and tax base sharing are interesting local-level policies that could be put in place. Kansas has been at the forefront of school finance stuff over time!
Spent yesterday morning going through the Epstein files looking for municipal finance stuff. Indeed, I found some stuff. Will send out through my newsletter Monday.
February 6, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Spent yesterday morning going through the Epstein files looking for municipal finance stuff. Indeed, I found some stuff. Will send out through my newsletter Monday.
Thanks for saying so! I’m sorry to hear about the votes. It really is a terrible system. Is there an appetite for new approaches in the county?
February 6, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Thanks for saying so! I’m sorry to hear about the votes. It really is a terrible system. Is there an appetite for new approaches in the county?
Reposted by david i. backer
I can't answer, but I'm reading your book. I'm the Decatur County Dem. Party Chair in KS. Our schools are in disrepair. We've tried funding the improvements the traditional way, but it was voted down twice. It's time to think outside of the box. Your book was recommended to me by Mark Schaukowitch.
February 6, 2026 at 7:08 AM
I can't answer, but I'm reading your book. I'm the Decatur County Dem. Party Chair in KS. Our schools are in disrepair. We've tried funding the improvements the traditional way, but it was voted down twice. It's time to think outside of the box. Your book was recommended to me by Mark Schaukowitch.
4. If the university only had an 8 million pound loss when measured by net cash at the end of year, and it had an 18 million pound increase in cash, then that means they had a surplus of 10 million pounds in cash. Right? Lessening the budget crises number?
February 5, 2026 at 2:50 PM
4. If the university only had an 8 million pound loss when measured by net cash at the end of year, and it had an 18 million pound increase in cash, then that means they had a surplus of 10 million pounds in cash. Right? Lessening the budget crises number?
3. On the same page, the university reports an 18 million pound increase in cash and cash equivalents.
February 5, 2026 at 2:50 PM
3. On the same page, the university reports an 18 million pound increase in cash and cash equivalents.
2. When adjusting inflows from operating activities, depreciation increased by 29 million from 2024-2025, yielding net income (p. 52).
The shortfall of net cash looks more like an 8 million pound deficit, then?
The shortfall of net cash looks more like an 8 million pound deficit, then?
February 5, 2026 at 2:50 PM
2. When adjusting inflows from operating activities, depreciation increased by 29 million from 2024-2025, yielding net income (p. 52).
The shortfall of net cash looks more like an 8 million pound deficit, then?
The shortfall of net cash looks more like an 8 million pound deficit, then?
1. The dominant narrative of the budget crisis is that international students have decreased by 54%, creating huge drops in tuition revenue, ultimately leaving a 23 million pound deficit. But help me understand the numbers on page 52 of this doc www.essex.ac.uk/governance-a...
Financial statements | University of Essex
View our financial statements which cover the University of Essex and its subsidiary undertakings.
www.essex.ac.uk
February 5, 2026 at 2:50 PM
1. The dominant narrative of the budget crisis is that international students have decreased by 54%, creating huge drops in tuition revenue, ultimately leaving a 23 million pound deficit. But help me understand the numbers on page 52 of this doc www.essex.ac.uk/governance-a...
So I gave a lecture to the business school at the Uni of Essex yesterday, and during my talk there was a rally to protest massive cuts to the budget there. I got curious so I poked around financial statements and I have a couple questions, maybe ppl here can answer:
February 5, 2026 at 2:50 PM
So I gave a lecture to the business school at the Uni of Essex yesterday, and during my talk there was a rally to protest massive cuts to the budget there. I got curious so I poked around financial statements and I have a couple questions, maybe ppl here can answer:
I know it was taken over by our toxic ruling class but still kinda amazing that 10k ppl follow me on TikTok to hear about school finance
February 4, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I know it was taken over by our toxic ruling class but still kinda amazing that 10k ppl follow me on TikTok to hear about school finance
For my UK colleagues and comrades, this’ll start in a couple hours. Come listen to me talk about my book!
February 4, 2026 at 11:47 AM
For my UK colleagues and comrades, this’ll start in a couple hours. Come listen to me talk about my book!
Reposted by david i. backer
40 Iowans showed up on Zoom on a Monday night to dig into school finance docs, bonds, & audits w/ @schooldaves.bsky.social. That's 40 people asking questions about the political economy that underfunds public schools & demands they borrow from private markets.
That's 40 people demanding better.
That's 40 people demanding better.
If you're an Iowan who wants a better understanding of school finance and how to "fight wonky" to get the public schools we deserve. Join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement & @schooldaves.bsky.social for a virtual meetup to do just that!
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
February 3, 2026 at 1:59 PM
40 Iowans showed up on Zoom on a Monday night to dig into school finance docs, bonds, & audits w/ @schooldaves.bsky.social. That's 40 people asking questions about the political economy that underfunds public schools & demands they borrow from private markets.
That's 40 people demanding better.
That's 40 people demanding better.