Reports & Publications

We've published hundreds of reports and analyses covering a variety of issues in education funding and state finance policy, and we're always working on new research reports. Browse through all of our reports and publications using the keyword search below, or search by a specific category using the drop-down menu below the Featured post.

Budget Snapshot: K-12 Education Funding in Governor Lamont's Proposed Budget, FYs 2026 and 2027

Feb 6, 2025 Featured

On February 5, 2025, Governor Ned Lamont released his recommended biennial state budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This nonpartisan analysis details the changes to state education funding in the governor’s proposed budget, and provides a brief overview of the general fiscal outlook of the state budget and economy.

Education Funding Snapshot - Governor's Budget for FYs 2026 and 2027 Interactive Community Impact Tool - Governor's Budget for FYs 2026 and 2027

Education Funding State Budget

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Distributing Non-Education State Aid to Municipalities through a Needs-Capacity Formula

Oct 4, 2023

The State of Connecticut contains 169 towns with a wide range of wealth and resident needs. Currently, the State of Connecticut provides financial aid to towns through a variety of statutory and non-statutory grant programs. The current structure for non-education town aid does not sufficiently address the underlying municipal fiscal disparities that are caused by the unequal costs of delivering services and the low revenue raising capacity of towns in Connecticut. The purpose of this policy briefing is to introduce and examine how Connecticut can address municipal fiscal disparities by using a needs-capacity formula to distribute non-education town aid.

Needs Capacity Formula for State Aid

Municipal Aid & Spending

FAQs: Change to Kindergarten Entry Age

Oct 3, 2023

This frequently asked questions document covers the 2023 legislative change made to the kindergarten entry age in Connecticut and what this change means for the state’s students, families, districts, and childcare providers.

FAQs Kindergarten Age Change

Community Student Enrollment/Demographics

FAQs: Tax Abatements and Education Finance

Sep 20, 2023

Since property tax revenue remains the largest source for education funding in Connecticut, tax abatements raise questions about the impacts of incentives on communities’ abilities to fund their local public schools. This document helps address some of these frequently asked questions about tax abatements and their potential impacts on local education funding.

FAQs Tax Abatements and Education Finance

Education Funding Taxes

Education Cost Sharing (ECS) Formula (INFOGRAPHIC)

Jun 21, 2023

The Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula is used by the State of Connecticut to distribute approximately $2.36 billion annually in state education funding. This infographic breaks down the ECS formula and provides an easy-to-understand look at how it is used to provide state funding to Connecticut's local and regional public school districts.

ECS Formula Infographic

Education Funding Funding Formulas Community

ECS Grants for FYs 2024 and 2025 with Comparisons to FY 2023 Funding Levels

Jun 20, 2023

This spreadsheet contains a town-by-town list of estimated Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 with comparisons to FY 2023 ECS funding levels.

ECS Grants for FYs 2024 and 2025 Compared to FY 2023

Education Funding Funding Formulas

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