State Budgets

Budget analysis calculator, data, budget sheet.
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Special Education How Much Does Special Education Truly Cost? Finally, an Answer Is on the Horizon
A new federally funded research study will provide the first national assessment in 25 years of spending on students with disabilities.
Mark Lieberman, August 26, 2024
10 min read
Illustration of dollar being used to fill gap in bridge.
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States Some School Workers Now Get Unemployment Over the Summer. Here's How It Works
Districts are scrambling as some states now allow non-instructional school employees to collect summer unemployment checks.
Mark Lieberman, August 13, 2024
9 min read
Photo of dollar bills frozen in ice.
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School & District Management ‘Be Vocal Without Being Vicious’: Superintendents on Fighting for More Funding
Two superintendents talk about stepping into the political realm to call for more public school funding.
Caitlynn Peetz, July 5, 2024
5 min read
Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde delivers her breakthrough year address to those gathered for the 2024 Dallas ISD State of the District dinner at the Omni Dallas Hotel, April 4, 2024.
Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde delivers her breakthrough-year address to those gathered for the Dallas school district's State of the District dinner at the Omni Dallas Hotel in April.
The Dallas Morning News via TNS
School & District Management Superintendents Are Calling Out Politicians More as Budgets Grow Precarious
Superintendents are traditionally hesitant to engage in political debate. That's changing as budget gaps grow.
Caitlynn Peetz, July 2, 2024
7 min read
Abacus with rolls of dollar banknotes
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Education Funding Jim Crow-Era School Funding Hurt Black Families for Generations, Research Shows
Mississippi dramatically underfunded Black schools in the Jim Crow era, with long-lasting effects on Black families.
Mark Lieberman, June 14, 2024
5 min read
The direction of money, the question of money, the businessman stands at the crossroads with coins and ponders.
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Budget & Finance Districts Struggle to Find the Least Harmful Cuts as Budgets Shrink
Districts are losing one-time federal funds and laboring to figure out how to prudently cut positions or even close schools.
Mark Lieberman, June 11, 2024
9 min read
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during Education Week’s 2024 Leadership Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., on May 2, 2024.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during Education Week’s 2024 Leadership Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., on May 2, 2024.
Sam Mallon/Education Week
Federal Arming Teachers Could Cause 'Accidents and More Tragedy,' Miguel Cardona Says
"This is not in my opinion a smart option,” the education secretary said at an EdWeek event.
Mark Lieberman, May 2, 2024
4 min read
An empty school classroom with chairs and desks overlaid with an illustrated professional standing on a percentage mark holding an arrow above it.
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Teaching Profession An Unexpected Effect of Teacher Strikes on How Much Schools Spend
Districts where strikes took place saw average per-pupil funding grow. But that wasn't the only impact of educator strikes.
Mark Lieberman, April 19, 2024
4 min read
Illustration of many roads and road signs going in different directions with falling money all around.
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Education Funding When There's More Money for Schools, Is There an 'Objective' Way to Hand It Out?
A fight over the school funding formula in Mississippi is kicking up old debates over how to best target aid.
Mark Lieberman, April 17, 2024
7 min read
Vector illustration tutoring concept of online learning with teacher and students.
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States Is Tutoring at Risk? States Stretch to Keep Funding in Place
States are using a variety of ways to ensure that tutoring programs can continue.
Olina Banerji, April 8, 2024
6 min read
Collage illustration of California state house and U.S. currency background.
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Education Funding States Are Pulling Back on K-12 Spending. How Hard Will Schools Get Hit?
Some states are trimming education investments as financial forecasts suggest boom times may be over.
Mark Lieberman, March 7, 2024
6 min read
 Illustration of a robot hand drawing a graph line leading to budget and finalcial spending.
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Education Funding Using AI to Guide School Funding: 4 Takeaways
One state is using AI to help guide school funding decisions. Will others follow?
Mark Lieberman, March 1, 2024
5 min read
Illustration of robotic hand putting coins into jar.
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Education Funding A State Uses AI to Determine School Funding. Is This the Future or a Cautionary Tale?
Nevada reworked its funding formula hoping to target extra aid to students most in need. What happened could hold lessons for other states.
Mark Lieberman, February 28, 2024
13 min read
Conceptual illustration of tiny people is planning the personal budget, accounting, analysis.
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Education Funding How States Are Rethinking Where School Funding Should Go
There's constant debate over the best way to allocate state money to schools. Here are some ways states are reworking their school funding.
Mark Lieberman, February 23, 2024
7 min read