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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

District Reference Groups (DRGs)

District Reference Groups (DRGs) are a classification system that groups local and regional public school districts together based on the similar socioeconomic characteristics and status of their students. Developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education, the DRGs have not been officially updated since they were first released in 2006. Although not for official use, the School and State Finance Project has replicated the DRGs using updated data and the same methodology and variables as the original DRGs.

DRG Webpage 2023 DRGs One Pager
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Community Student Enrollment/Demographics District/School Spending

Billion Dollar Question: How Connecticut School Districts Plan to Spend COVID-Relief Funds

This report breaks down how districts propose to spend hundreds of millions of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund dollars, provided under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, by the 2024 deadline as they continue to respond to the ongoing pandemic and its impacts on the academic and social-emotional needs of students.

Billion Dollar Question Billion Dollar Question - Online Report
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Education Funding District/School Spending

Racial Disparities in Connecticut Education Funding

Connecticut's public school districts remain deeply segregated and significant funding gaps continue to exist between districts that predominantly serve students of color and districts that largely serve White student populations. These are two of the overarching findings from this School and State Finance Project report, which examines racial disparities in Connecticut education funding.

Racial Disparities in CT Education Funding Racial Disparities and Educational Funding Fact Sheet
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Education Funding Community Student Enrollment/Demographics District/School Spending Equity

FAQs: Per-Pupil Expenditures & Public School Expenditure Reports

Starting in late 2019, and in accordance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) has published annual Public School Expenditure Reports for each local public school district, charter school district, and Regional Educational Service Center (RESC). This frequently asked questions document looks at the per-pupil expenditure information contained in these reports and how it differs from what was available previously.

FAQs Public School Expenditures Reports Per Pupil Expenditures
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District/School Spending Fiscal Transparency