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

Filter by category

Excess Cost Grant (INFOGRAPHIC)

Feb 25, 2025

This infographic explains how the Excess Cost grant works. The grant is provided by the State of Connecticut to school districts to assist them in paying for students who have extraordinary special education needs and associated costs.

Excess Cost Grant Infographic

Special Education Community District/School Spending

FAQs: Excess Cost Grant

Sep 3, 2024

This frequently asked questions document summarizes key components of Connecticut's Excess Cost grant, which is provided by the State to school districts to assist them in paying for special education expenses for students with extraordinary needs.

Excess Cost Grant FAQs

Education Funding Special Education Community

FAQs: Special Education Services for Schools of Choice

Jul 31, 2024

This frequently asked questions document discusses special education services for Connecticut students attending public schools of choice, including how those services are delivered and paid for.

Special Education in Choice Schools FAQ

Special Education Community Schools of Choice

Students with Disabilities Weight for ECS Formula

Jul 29, 2024

One learning need currently not weighted for in the ECS formula is special education. This summary document provides an overview how adding a weight for students with disabilities to the ECS formula would benefit students, the cost of adding such a weight, and other states that currently weight for special education in their funding formulas.

ECS Weight for Students with Disabilities

Education Funding Special Education

Excess Cost Funding Shortfalls for FYs 2024 and 2025 and the Impact to Reimbursements

Jul 25, 2024

Excess Cost grant reimbursement requests for FY 2024 significantly exceeded the $181 million appropriated for the grant in the state budget, and are expected to exceed the amount appropriated in FY 2025. Without additional funding, districts and towns will not receive the reimbursement levels specified in statute for the Excess Cost grant, resulting in less funding for all districts educating high-needs students with disabilities.

Excess Cost Funding Shortfalls for FYs 2024 and 2025