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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 Appropriations Committee's Budget, FYs 2026-27

Featured

On April 22, 2025, the Connecticut General Assembly's Appropriations Committee introduced and passed its recommended state budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This nonpartisan analysis details these changes to state education funding in the Appropriations Committee's budget, and provides a brief overview of the general fiscal outlook of the state budget and economy.

Education Funding Snapshot - Appropriations Committee Budget for FYs 2026 and 2027 Interactive Community Impact Tool - Appropriations Committee Budget for FYs 2026 and 2027
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Education Funding State Budget

State Fiscal Oversight of Connecticut Municipalities

The State of Connecticut recently increased the level of oversight and monitoring of the finances of its 169 municipalities with the creation of the tiering system in 2017. The tiering system categorizes fiscally distressed municipalities based on their fiscal health and stability. The level of oversight and involvement by a designated statutorily created board increases as the fiscal health of a given municipality is deemed less secure. This policy briefing details this oversight, discusses the boards that oversee and work with municipalities, and examines the authority granted to these boards to improve the fiscal health of municipal finances.

Fiscal Oversight of Municipalities
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Municipal Aid & Spending Fiscal Transparency

Connecticut's Quasi-Public Agencies

Connecticut’s quasi-public agencies are independent government corporations that, while maintaining some government oversight and accountability, are not under the direct control of the government and its many controls and requirements. This policy briefing looks at each of Connecticut’s 17 quasi-public agencies and details their backgrounds, governance structures, revenues and expenditures, and additional requirements. Additionally, this policy briefing makes note of actions other states have taken in regard to quasi-public agencies, and presents several recommendations for strengthening the transparency and operations of Connecticut’s quasi-publics.

Connecticut Quasi Public Agencies
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Fiscal Transparency

FAQs: Fiscal Transparency Under ESSA

This frequently asked questions document concerns the fiscal transparency requirements and regulations of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA is the reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which oversees the distribution of the bulk of federal education funding provided to increase educational opportunities for low-income students and to improve elementary and secondary schools and districts.

Fiscal Transparency Under ESSA
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Fiscal Transparency

Connecticut's Municipal Employee Retirement System

As a supplement to the Connecticut School Finance Project’s January 2018 report, Factors Contributing to Health of State Employee Pension Funds, this policy briefing analyzes the health of Connecticut’s Municipal Employee Retirement System (MERS), examines the factors contributing to the system’s relatively healthy current funding level, and discusses the features of the system that differentiate it from other public pension systems, such as Connecticut’s State Employees Retirement System (SERS).

CT Municipal Employee Retirement System
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Pensions Fixed Costs