2023-03-232022/23:UbU12 · p.3UbUEducation
A so-called class money
A class-based school funding model (a "class allowance")
What's at stake: How the school voucher is designed can affect class sizes, since the cost of teaching is roughly the same regardless of the number of pupils in the class, which particularly affects schools with smaller classes, in rural areas, or with particular teaching needs.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether school funding should be changed to a fixed allowance per class instead of the current system in which a sum of money follows each pupil, or whether the matter should instead be handled within the upcoming, broader review.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The Committee refers to the government's announced broad review of the school-funding regulations and considers that the issues raised in the motion, including the proposal for a class-based allowance, fall within the scope of the upcoming review, so the motion is not approved at this time.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (V)
The reservation (V) argues that the current school-voucher system, in which a sum follows each pupil, creates incentives for large classes because teaching costs are largely the same regardless of class size, which disadvantages schools with smaller classes, high teacher density, rural schools and schools with pupils who have particular needs; the party wants a fixed allowance per class instead, supplemented by individual needs-based funding.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 3 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 20/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motion 2022/23:610 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) demand 4.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2022/23:610 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkande 4.
Riksdag decision: The National Audit Office's examination of school money for independent schools shows that the rules on compensation to private providers in some respects counteract an equitable school and therefore need to be changed. In a letter, the government states that it essentially agrees with the conclusions of the examination and that the issues should be investigated. Parliament places the government's letter in the files, that is, closes the matter. School money is the sum of money that a student generates to the provider who is responsible for the student's education. The National Audit Office believes that the current rules make it difficult for providers to plan their activities and achieve effective resource distribution. Therefore, it recommends the government to ensure that a government-determined formula model for compensation to private providers is introduced. Furthermore, the National Audit Office recommends the government to review the regulations on substantial negative consequences when establishing independent schools, so that it becomes clear what is meant.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the current school voucher system to be replaced with a fixed compensation per class plus individual needs-based financing. (V) — Reservation 3
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to replace the school money system with a distribution model that directs resources where the needs are greatest and establishes that school shall be compensatory and equal regardless of where the student lives.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to replace the school money system with a distribution model that directs resources where the needs are greatest and establishes that school shall be compensatory and equal regardless of where the student lives. A class-based grant complemented with needs-based grant counteracts precisely the incentives for large classes that disadvantage small schools and rural areas. The plan does not, however, specify any particular grant model, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ersätta skolpengssystemet med en fördelningsmodell som styr resurser dit behoven är störst och slår fast att skolan ska vara kompensatorisk och likvärdig oavsett var eleven bor. En klassbaserad ersättning kompletterad med behovsbaserad ersättning motverkar just de incitament för stora klasser som missgynnar små skolor och landsbygd. Planen anger dock ingen särskild ersättningsmodell, varför slutsatsen härleds.
- replace the school money systemdecisive»Skolpengssystemet behöver ersättas med en fördelningsmodell« (party programme ↗)“The school money system needs to be replaced with a distribution model”
- compensatory school»En skola som ger barn lika chanser är också kompensatorisk, det vill säga den förmår ge mer stöd till den som kommer från sämre förutsättningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A school that gives children equal chances is also compensatory, that is, it is able to provide more support to those who come from worse circumstances.”
- equivalent school throughout the country»Det ska inte spela någon roll om du bor i ett miljonprogramsområde eller på landsbygden, rätten till likvärdig utbildning och bildning är grundläggande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It should not matter whether you live in a million-programme area or in the countryside, the right to equivalent education and learning is fundamental.”
- more teachers and early interventions»Vänsterpartiet vill se fler lärare, tidigare insatser för barn som har det kämpigt och förbättrad tillgång till lärande genom hela livet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to see more teachers, earlier interventions for children who are struggling and improved access to learning throughout life.”
The programme demands that society's resources are distributed so that all students are given equal opportunity to knowledge, and the election manifesto that the most vulnerable schools receive more resources and that school funding becomes fairer.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The programme demands that society's resources are distributed so that all students are given equal opportunity to knowledge, and the election manifesto that the most vulnerable schools receive more resources and that school funding becomes fairer. A class-based compensation with individual need allowance is an instrument for exactly that, especially for schools with small classes and high teacher density. The model as such does not appear in the documents, which is why certainty is low.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet kräver att samhällets resurser fördelas så att alla elever ges lika möjlighet till kunskap, och valmanifestet att de mest utsatta skolorna får mer resurser och att skolpengen blir rättvisare. En klassbaserad ersättning med individuellt behovspåslag är ett instrument för just det, särskilt för skolor med små klasser och hög lärartäthet. Modellen som sådan finns inte i dokumenten, varför säkerheten är låg.
- equitable resource distributiondecisive»Detta måste motverkas genom att samhällets resurser fördelas så att alla elever ges« (party programme ↗)“This must be countered by distributing society's resources so that all students are given”
- more resources to vulnerable schools»De mest utsatta skolorna och förskolorna måste få mer resurser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The most vulnerable schools and preschools must receive more resources.”
- fairer school funding»Skolpengen måste bli rättvisare så att fristående skolor inte överkompenseras på ett sätt som går ut över elever i kommunala skolor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“School funding must become fairer so that independent schools are not overcompensated in a way that disadvantages students in municipal schools.”
- resources stay in school»För det krävs mer resurser och att resurserna stannar i skolan genom ett stopp för marknadsskolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“This requires more resources and that resources stay in school through an end to market-driven schooling.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan says nothing about the technical design of the allocation model, but the election manifesto requires that resources to schools are distributed according to need and the party programme that schools have sufficient resources for the encounter between teacher and student.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about the technical design of the allocation model, but the election manifesto requires that resources to schools are distributed according to need and the party programme that schools have sufficient resources for the encounter between teacher and student. A model that does not favor large classes and that is complemented with needs-based allocation is closer to that principle than a pure per-pupil allocation. The counter-proposal's requirements are therefore supported, with low certainty because the plan only provides the principle.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om ersättningsmodellens tekniska utformning, men valmanifestet kräver att resurserna till skolan fördelas efter behov och partiprogrammet att skolan har tillräckligt med resurser för mötet mellan lärare och elev. En modell som inte premierar stora klasser och som kompletteras med behovsbaserad ersättning ligger närmare den principen än en ren elevpeng. Motförslagets krav stöds därför, med låg säkerhet eftersom planen bara ger principen.
- resource distribution according to needdecisive»I det nya gröna folkhemmet fördelas resurserna till skola och förskola efter behov så att varje barn klarar sin utbildning och mår bra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In the new green people's home resources are distributed to schools and preschools according to need so that each child masters their education and feels good.”
- sufficient resources per student»behöver skolan tillräckligt med resurser. Undervisningen ska utformas utifrån varje elevs unika« (party programme ↗)“needs schools to have sufficient resources. Teaching shall be designed based on each student's unique”
- smaller groups, more staff»satsa på mindre barngrupper och mer personal i förskolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest in smaller groups and more staff in preschools.”
- no profit incentives in schools»sätta stopp för vinstjakten i skolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“put a stop to profit-seeking in schools.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's solution to unequal school financing is to adapt the per-pupil grant according to school managers' responsibility and pupils' conditions and needs, not to replace the per-pupil grant with a class-based compensation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's solution to unequal school financing is to adapt the per-pupil grant according to school managers' responsibility and pupils' conditions and needs, not to replace the per-pupil grant with a class-based compensation. The financing system is in the party programme itself the tool that combines school choice with fairness, and free school choice shall be protected. However, the plan shares the counter-proposal's concern about small schools in rural areas, but wants to achieve this within the per-pupil grant framework.
Original (Swedish)
Planens lösning på ojämlik skolfinansiering är att anpassa skolpengen efter huvudmännens ansvar och elevernas förutsättningar och behov, inte att ersätta elevpengen med en klassbaserad ersättning. Pengsystemet är i partiprogrammet själva verktyget som förenar valfrihet med rättvisa, och det fria skolvalet ska värnas. Planen delar däremot motförslagets omsorg om små skolor på landsbygden, men vill nå det inom elevpengens ram.
- adapted per-pupil grantdecisive»Skolpengen ska anpassas efter huvudmännens ansvar och elevernas förutsättningar och behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The per-pupil grant shall be adapted according to school managers' responsibility and pupils' conditions and needs.”
- protect free school choice»För att uppnå det måste vi värna och vidareutveckla det fria skolvalet, och åtgärda de brister som finns.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To achieve that we must protect and further develop free school choice, and remedy the shortcomings that exist.”
- choice via financing system»Centerpartiet vill se en välfärd som är gemensamt finansierad men som ger valfrihet« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party wants to see welfare that is jointly financed but which gives choice”
- small schools in rural areas»Det fria skolvalet ska värnas och små skolor och förskolor på landsbygden ges förutsättningar att fortsätta sin verksamhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free school choice shall be protected and small schools and preschools in rural areas shall be given conditions to continue their operations.”
The plan's decisive commitment is a state school voucher that follows the student and provides equal conditions throughout the country, combined with mandatory and coordinated school choice.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is a state school voucher that follows the student and provides equal conditions throughout the country, combined with mandatory and coordinated school choice. A fixed reimbursement per class breaks the link between student choice and resources and thus conflicts with the plan's model. That the plan simultaneously wants to distribute resources based on socioeconomic factors covers only the counter-proposal's needs-based part.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är en statlig skolpeng som följer eleven och ger likvärdiga villkor i hela landet, kombinerad med ett obligatoriskt och samordnat skolval. En fast ersättning per klass bryter kopplingen mellan elevens val och resurserna och står därmed i strid med planens modell. Att planen samtidigt vill fördela resurser efter socioekonomiska faktorer täcker bara motförslagets behovsbaserade del.
- state school voucher per studentdecisive»I ett första steg kommer vi att införa en statlig skolpeng som ger likvärdiga villkor i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“As a first step we will introduce a state school voucher that provides equal conditions throughout the country”
- strengthened and coordinated school choice»Vi vill i stället stärka skolvalet genom att göra det obligatoriskt och samordnat, så att fler i stället för färre får välja vilken skola de vill gå i.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We instead want to strengthen school choice by making it mandatory and coordinated, so that more rather than fewer get to choose which school they want to attend.”
- freedom of choice valued»Kvaliteten och valfriheten ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Quality and freedom of choice shall be valued.”
- socioeconomic resource distribution»Resurser ska fördelas till skolorna utifrån socioekonomiska faktorer.« (party programme ↗)“Resources shall be distributed to schools based on socioeconomic factors.”
The plan says nothing about the compensation model's construction, but it requires small groups in childcare, that schools are ensured resources for students with special needs and that all regardless of residence can benefit from society's fundamental rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about the compensation model's construction, but it requires small groups in childcare, that schools are ensured resources for students with special needs and that all regardless of residence can benefit from society's fundamental rights. A fixed compensation per class complemented with needs-based compensation responds to these principles, especially for schools with small classes and in rural areas. The derivation, however, is indirect.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om ersättningsmodellens konstruktion, men den kräver små grupper i barnomsorgen, att skolor tillförsäkras resurser för elever med särskilda behov och att alla oavsett bostadsort får del av samhällets grundläggande rättigheter. En fast ersättning per klass kompletterad med behovsbaserad ersättning svarar mot dessa principer, särskilt för skolor med små klasser och på landsbygden. Härledningen är dock indirekt.
- resources according to needdecisive»Skolorna ska tillförsäkras resurser för att kunna tillmötesgå elever med särskilda« (party programme ↗)“Schools shall be ensured resources to meet students with special”
- small groups»små barngrupper och personal med både pedagogisk och omvårdande kompetens« (party programme ↗)“small childcare groups and staff with both pedagogical and care competence”
- equality regardless of residence»Alla människor ska oavsett bostadsort kunna få del av« (party programme ↗)“All people shall regardless of residence be able to benefit from”
- freedom of school choice»rätten till fria skolor« (party programme ↗)“right to free schools”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's school model is built on money following the pupil through active and mandatory school choice, combined with clearer state control of school funding.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's school model is built on money following the pupil through active and mandatory school choice, combined with clearer state control of school funding. A fixed fee per class breaks the link between the pupil's choice and resources and has no support in the plan. The plan therefore argues against the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planens skolmodell bygger på att pengen följer eleven genom ett aktivt och obligatoriskt skolval, kombinerat med tydligare statlig styrning av skolpengen. En fast ersättning per klass bryter kopplingen mellan elevens val och resurserna och har inget stöd i planen. Planen talar därför mot motförslagets krav.
- money follows the pupil's choicedecisive»Det fria skolvalet gör att alla barn oavsett bakgrund och ekonomi kan välja den skola som passar dem bäst. Den friheten vill vi bevara.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free school choice means that all children regardless of background and economy can choose the school that best suits them. We want to preserve that freedom.”
- state control of school funding»Öka likvärdigheten genom att införa ett gemensamt kommunalt kösystem och en tydligare statlig styrning av skolpengen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase equity by introducing a common municipal queue system and clearer state control of school funding”
- active school choice»Införa ett aktivt och obligatoriskt skolval för alla« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce active and mandatory school choice for all”
- freedom of choice in schools»Möjligheten att välja skola är viktig för elever« (party programme ↗)“The opportunity to choose school is important for pupils”
The plan requires equal conditions at all schools, a policy for all of Sweden, and a work environment with study calm and individual support to students.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires equal conditions at all schools, a policy for all of Sweden, and a work environment with study calm and individual support to students. Class-based compensation that does not reward large classes favors small rural schools and high teacher density, which aligns with these commitments. However, the plan does not express itself about the funding model as such, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver lika villkor på alla skolor, en politik för hela Sverige och en arbetsmiljö med studiero och individuell hjälp till eleverna. En klassbaserad ersättning som inte belönar stora klasser gynnar små skolor på landsbygden och hög lärartäthet, vilket ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om finansieringsmodellen som sådan, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- equal conditions at all schoolsdecisive»Återupprätta en kunskapsfokuserad skola genom beprövad pedagogik och fokus på traditionellt lärande med lika villkor på alla skolor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Re-establish a knowledge-focused school through proven pedagogy and focus on traditional learning with equal conditions at all schools”
- study calm and individual support»En arbetsmiljö som ger utrymme för studiero, arbetsglädje och individuell hjälp till elever ska prioriteras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A work environment that provides space for study calm, work joy, and individual support to students shall be prioritized.”
- the whole country shall live»Bedriva en politik för hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct a policy for all of Sweden”
- equivalent conditions»Målet ska vara att ge alla som växer upp i Sverige har samma förutsättningar att bli goda och självständiga samhällsmedborgare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The goal shall be to give everyone growing up in Sweden the same conditions to become good and independent citizens.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UbU12)
- Committee report full text (HA01UbU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:2128 — En jämlik kunskapsskola utan vinstjakt av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2313 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:44 Riksrevisionens rapport om skolpengen - effektivitet och konsekvenser av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2318 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:44 Riksrevisionens rapport om skolpengen - effektivitet och konsekvenser av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:610 — Marknadsskolan av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:884 — Utbildning för livslångt lärande av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2022/23:44 — Riksrevisionens rapport om skolpengen - effektivitet och konsekvenser
Source: The Swedish Parliament