Common Causes of Inequity

• Insufficient district revenue: When overall funding levels are insufficient, it can limit a district’s ability to different spending based on students’ needs.
• Limited differentiation: A district’s funding formula may not meaningfully differentiate between schools to meet the unique needs of all students and all schools.
• Insufficient transparency: Because a district’s funding formula may not be shared broadly in accessible ways, school leaders and the community may not understand which resources each school receives and why.

Key Questions to Explore

• After accounting for differences in student need, how does our district’s overall spending level compare to the state average and other peer districts?
• When all funds are included, how does per-pupil spending compare at high-need vs. low-need schools in our district?
• How does this spending change if Title I funds are excluded?
• Are the formulas that govern the resources that each school receives widely shared and understood?

What Does the Data Say About School Funding?

Our interactive data resource will help deepen your understanding of how dimensions of resource equity like School Funding play out in schools and districts across the country. As you navigate these interactive stories, you’ll learn how system shifts can lead to more equitable and better student experiences and outcomes.