Publications & Resources
- Newsletters
- Dec 19, 2024
Looking to avoid closures? Districts have options
Small schools can be financially feasible - but there are tradeoffs.
- Newsletters
- Nov 14, 2024
Should schools brace for big cuts in federal funds?
How will the election impact school finance? Here's what we think is on the ed finance horizon and what’s worrying us.
- Newsletters
- Oct 24, 2024
Is it true? ESSER boosted spending more in wealthier schools?
Larger higher-poverty districts got more ESSER per pupil than their peers. But, many of those districts then deployed relief funds in ways that disproportionately boosted spending in their wealthier schools. How did that happen?
- Newsletters
- Oct 18, 2024
Our special ed analysis has people talking
Special Ed is consuming a growing share of public school dollars. Is it helping? We owe it to students to regularly scrutinize these dollars to see if we can do more to maximize the outcomes for them.
- Newsletters
- Aug 29, 2024
Which districts could return relief dollars to the Feds?
The Sept. 30 ESSER deadline is fast approaching. Which districts might miss it?
- Newsletters
- Aug 15, 2024
Schools have more staff than ever. Are kids benefiting?
Most districts now have more staff than ever before. Per usual, Edunomics Lab asks: Is it working? Are students benefiting?
- Newsletters
- Jun 18, 2024
Can vendors help our schools?
Optimism around the ed vendor space is running high.
- Newsletters
- May 23, 2024
Widespread teacher shortages are over (mostly). Conditions are changing rapidly
It's more important than ever to track real-time data.
- Newsletters
- Apr 10, 2024
Is it too late to protect what’s working as the cliff hits districts?
Next year's school district budgets will be locked in this spring. After that, influencing spending for 24-25 gets a lot harder.
- Newsletters
- Mar 14, 2024
Winding down ESSER. Is it working? What’s left to do?
Just 6 months remain on this massive federal program. While there's still work to be done, we can already see it's legacy taking shape. Here are a few highlights...
- Newsletters
- Mar 05, 2024
Bringing communities along during painful budget choices
For leaders facing tight budgets, there are better and worse ways to handle the next several months.
- Newsletters
- Jan 18, 2024
Did the feds just extend the ESSER deadline?
In early January 2024, the U.S. Dept. of Education sent a letter to states with the latest on the ARP ESSER extension. Here's our take on what it all means.
- Newsletters
- Jan 09, 2024
How legislatures can ensure school funds do more for students
K-12 funding is the biggest line item in most state budgets. Here are five policy levers that states can pull to help districts maximize the value of every dollar for students.
- Newsletters
- Nov 30, 2023
Who decides what to cut? Technically school boards do
School boards face tough tradeoffs as they decide what to keep and what goes away when federal relief funds dry up. Here's what we've been learning about how boards engage in making financial decisions.
- Newsletters
- Oct 26, 2023
Mayday…Mayday…Distress signals are appearing in some districts’ data
A quick look at a district's data can show whether it's chipping away at learning losses, how quickly ESSER is being spent down, what’s happening to enrollment and more. In a few districts, some of the numbers amount to a distress signal.
- Newsletters
- Sep 21, 2023
The ESSER cliff will be worse in high-needs districts
High-poverty districts got more ESSER (which means the cliff will be steeper) and have spent their funds more slowly (leaving more to spend in the last year) than more affluent counterparts.
- Newsletters
- Aug 09, 2023
The answer to: How to sustain efforts when ESSER ends?
Some ESSER-funded efforts are clearly worth saving. Doing so will require being aware of tradeoffs and making intentional choices.
- Newsletters
- Jun 15, 2023
Districts just approved their last ESSER-fueled budgets
With the deadline for spending ESSER approaching, now is the last chance to ensure these funds get students back on track. It also means the days of financial surplus are ending.
- Newsletters
- Mar 09, 2023
Sharing tough financial news? Odds are you’re doing it wrong
Edunomics Lab has commissioned lots of messaging research on district finances. Here’s some of what we’ve learned about sharing tough financial news in a way that doesn’t erode trust with staff and parents.
- Newsletters
- Feb 02, 2023
Tough finances ahead for districts. Will states come to the rescue?
Come September 2024, when ESSER runs out, districts will need to adjust annual spending down by $60B. What might that mean for employee layoffs?
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