David I. Backer is an associate professor of education policy at Seton Hall University whose research, teaching, and organizing focus on ideology and school finance. A former high school teacher, his research has appeared in Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Urban Affairs, Journal of Education Policy, Journal of Educational Human Resources, Journal of Educational Administration and History, as well as popular venues like Crain's Business Chicago, Phenomenal World, African American Policy Forum, The American Prospect, n+1, Dissent, and Jacobin. He lives in Philadelphia.