ESSA Key Resources: Improving the Fairness of School Funding

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) offers a variety of opportunities for state and local leaders to ensure equitable funding across their schools. AIR experts have compiled a list of key resources to help state and district leaders assess their funding practices, identify problems related to equity, and promote equitable resource allocation. Read our action guide about ESSA and school funding equity.
 

Key Resources

Implementing Equitable Systems of Resource Allocation Within Districts

• Strategic School Funding Results website, developed by AIR

Engaging Stakeholders with Per-Pupil Spending Data

• Stakeholder Engagement Guide from the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders
• Beyond the Building: A Facilitation Guide for School, Family, and Community Connections developed by SEDL, now AIR
• Toolkit of Resources for Engaging Families and the Community as Partners in Education from the Institute for Education Sciences
• Strategies for Equitable Family Engagement from the State Support Network

Connecting Resource Allocation Data to School Improvement Efforts

• Facilities Information Management: A Guide for State and Local Education Agencies from the National Center for Education Statistics

Examining Your Approach to Funding Schools

• Evaluations of weighted student funding systems in Hawaii and California from AIR
   

School Funding Support Available from AIR

Services

• Co-Interpretation^SM collaborative data analysis for stakeholders
• Parent and community engagement support capacity building
• Analysis of per-pupil expenditure data
• Evaluation of the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of interventions
• Development of cost-effectiveness analyses for interventions
• Assistance for districts with evaluating current funding formulas