Funding for Schools of Choice in Connecticut's Comparison States

In designing a statewide school finance system for Connecticut, one of the most challenging considerations is how to fund schools of choice fairly. In particular, charter and magnet school programs have expanded rapidly over the past two decades, increasing the total cost of these programs. Discussions regarding the funding of schools of choice have become increasingly politicized and controversial. Frequently, schools of choice are characterized as being in competition with local school districts for funding.

In order to implement a single, fair, unified formula to fund Connecticut’s schools, local contributions to schools of choice must be considered, as fully funding all schools of choice with state aid alone would significantly increase costs to the state. This policy briefing explores how the comparison states of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island fund schools of choice, and how, and to what extent, local school districts and municipalities contribute funds to support choice programs.