School Funding

Learn more about how K-12 schools and districts raise money, set budgets, and spend funds
Yellow electric school bus plugged in at a charging station.
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Budget & Finance Why Some Districts Rejected Cash to Buy Electric Buses—And Others Want More
A handful of federal programs have been key to accelerating the adoption of electric school buses.
Mark Lieberman, July 8, 2024
5 min read
Photo of dollar bills frozen in ice.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
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
Illustration of two groups of professionals fighting in a tug of war with a dollar.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Teacher Layoffs on the Horizon: As ESSER Expires, Districts Face Tough Calls
The Great Recession offers some insight into how staff reductions might play out as ESSER funds expire.
Caitlynn Peetz, June 27, 2024
4 min read
Group of children board schoolbus
E+
Budget & Finance Some Districts Charge for School Bus Rides—If They Offer Transportation at All
Transportation charges are rarely scrutinized, but advocates say they're an equity issue.
Mark Lieberman, June 25, 2024
4 min read
Fourth-grader Sammiayah Thompson, left, and her brother third-grader Nehemiah Thompson work outside in their yard on laptops provided by their school system for distant learning, in Hartford, Conn., on June 5, 2020.
Fourth-grader Sammiayah Thompson, left, and her brother third-grader Nehemiah Thompson work outside in their yard on laptops provided by their school system for distance learning, in Hartford, Conn., on June 5, 2020. Some districts kept virtual programs as an option after schools reopened, but many of those are now considering cuts to them as budgets tighten.
Jessica Hill/AP
School & District Management Districts’ Virtual Programs Are on the Chopping Block as ESSER Ends
Although usually small in enrollment, virtual programs have been an important option for some students.
Caitlynn Peetz, June 25, 2024
6 min read
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Education Funding Whitepaper
Driving Impact Ahead of the ESSER Deadline with High-Dosage Tutoring
The impact of high-dosage tutoring on student outcomes is clear, now learn how districts are using ESSER III and other funding sources to...
Content provided by Varsity Tutors
Teacher helping adult special-needs student with computer.
iStock
Special Education Who's Eligible for Special Education Services? Schools Struggle to Keep Up
Many states now require schools to offer special education services to students until they turn 22. Costs and logistics can be daunting.
9 min read
The direction of money, the question of money, the businessman stands at the crossroads with coins and ponders.
Z_Wei/iStock/Getty
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
Hand putting together puzzle blocks with people icons.
iStock/Getty
Budget & Finance 3 Ways Districts Can Prepare for Financial Woes to Come
ESSER dollars are expiring soon, leaving districts to get creative with resources in future years.
Mark Lieberman, June 4, 2024
4 min read
Budget & Finance Webinar Staffing Schools After ESSER: What School and District Leaders Need to Know
Join our newsroom for insights on investing in critical student support positions as pandemic funds expire.
May 30, 2024
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Budget & Finance Webinar
Innovative Funding Models: A Deep Dive into Public-Private Partnerships
Discover how innovative funding models drive educational projects forward. Join us for insights into effective PPP implementation.
Content provided by Follett Learning
Illustration of woman turning back hands on clock.
Education Week + iStock / Getty Images Plus Week
Budget & Finance Districts Scramble to Comply With New Overtime Rule
Organizations push to delay new rule that requires overtime pay for more school employees.
Evie Blad, May 21, 2024
2 min read
A Black woman is standing on a ladder and looking into the distance with binoculars, in the background is an ascending arrow.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management From Our Research Center Principal Salaries: The Gap Between Expectation and Reality
Exclusive survey data indicate a gap between the expectations and the realities of principal pay.
Olina Banerji, May 20, 2024
4 min read