In an effort to provide valuable background information about the components of an effective school finance system, and offer options for policymakers to consider, the Connecticut School Finance Project created a comprehensive Funding Formula Guidebook, which details a framework for an equitable school finance system.
The Funding Formula Guidebook examines how Connecticut can achieve fair funding for its more than 540,000 students and includes:
- An overview of policy approaches to state education funding
- A review of research on effective education funding policies
- A summary of recent education funding reforms in other states
- An examination of how Connecticut’s current school finance system measures up to the necessary elements and characteristics of an effective school finance system
- A comprehensive analysis of key school finance system components including the:
- Foundation or core instructional amount
- Weights to drive resources toward districts and schools that serve higher-need students
- Mechanism for dividing the responsibility for funding education between the state and local government
- Inclusion of all students who attend public schools
Citation
Connecticut School Finance Project. (2016). Funding Formula Guidebook. New Haven, CT: Author. Retrieved from https://schoolstatefinance.org/resource-assets/Funding-Formula-Guidebook-2016.pdf.