Managing the Money
Charting a Course on School Spending
September 25, 2019
Money fuels the daily operations of every school and district, but big-picture debates about K-12 funding often take place at a level far removed from the classroom. This Education Week special report puts the focus on what those on the hot seat—superintendents, principals, and other local leaders—actually do with the funding they get and what stands in the way of their making better use of it. It includes exclusive Education Week Research Center polling on what school and district leaders think about their challenges in managing the taxpayer’s public school dollar.
- Budget & Finance Taking More Control of the School CoffersPublic school spending accounts for more than $700 billion in taxpayer dollars each year. Why so much—and how does that money get managed? Here’s what the numbers show and what district and school leaders think about it all.
Every Student Succeeds Act Money Jitters Are Never Far Below the Surface for School LeadersTalk to school and district leaders and you’ll hear worries about the next recession, spending restrictions, and a public that knows little about worries that lawmakers and elected officials who know little about their funding needs.
School & District Management We Asked About School Finance. What Did Districts Say?Education Week surveyed school principals and district-level leaders nationally about the challenges they face in managing the money that keeps their schools running.
School & District Management For Already Burdened Principals, Budget Control Remains ElusiveThe majority of school districts still sideline principals in major financial decisionmaking, even as researchers argue they should have more control. But some principals remain ambivalent about significantly greater autonomy.
Every Student Succeeds Act States Gird for Spending Reviews of Worst-Performing DistrictsA new mandate under the Every Student Succeeds Act requires a top-to-bottom look at how such districts deploy their money, staff, and the time used to support improvement.
School & District Management More Than Calculators and Red Tape: Why Schools Should Pay Attention to ProcurementThe business of buying things for schools is a key part of making sure that hard-fought K-12 funding actually turns into a quality education at the school and classroom level.
