With the aim of investigating the relationship between the funding of public basic education and the educational results achieved, this study analyzed a pre-selected set of foreign academic works and identified elements that can be used to encourage debate about the Brazilian model of educational financing. The study used the scoping review technique expanded by elements of the systematic literature of review to analyze the selected foreign studies. The study demonstrated that the availability of financial resources capable of providing an adequate set of inputs, accompanied by an efficient, responsible management process and subject to social control methods, is a crucial requirement for improving educational results and reducing the negative effects generated by low socioeconomic status (SES). It was also observed that although socioeconomic status is an important predictor of educational results, it can be mediated by actions carried out inside and outside school. Additionally, this study demonstrates that educational results need to be measured using indicators other than those obtained through standardized tests, such as: access; school performance; frequency; school dropout; student involvement; completion; progress between stages; improvement in social indicators/social mobility; compliance with the rights provided for in legislation, among others.