Education
Basics

Education funding and education policy varies considerably across states, but the core challenges are common and familiar.  K-12 public schools rely heavily on state and local financing, usually through some combination of "baseline" state aid and local property tax revenues.   This exposes schools to stark budgetary pressures and geographical inequities--at a time when public investments in education are more important than ever.  To make matters worse, federal and state "reform" efforts have been largely animated by a shift in resources to charter or private schools, and a concerted attack on the collective bargaining rights of teachers and school staff.

Learn More

On education funding, see the work of the Committee for Education Funding, a coalition of 80 organization dedicated to sustaining adequate federal funding for education; the New America Foundation's Federal Education Budget Project; and the work of the National Education Association.

Recent Research Highlights

A Closer Look at Maternal and Infant Well-Being (April 2012)

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Asset Poverty (March 2011)

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Authorized Abuse: Sponsors, Management and Ohio Charter School Law (September 2010)

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Budget Brief – Higher Education (March 2011)

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Budget Brief – K-12 Education (March 2011)

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Budget Brief: Slash, Seize and Privatize (K-12 education, June 2011)

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Building Bridges in Wisconsin: Connecting Working Adults With College Credentials and Career Advancement

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Catching Up: Adult Paths to a High School Education (November 2010)

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Children as Priorities: An Issues Briefing for Voters & Candidates in State Elections

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Cutting Class: Underfunding the Foundation Budget’s Core Education Program (Nov 2011)

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