Research
States provide funding to districts using either a weighted student formula or a resource-based formula
Curated by: Christopher Candelaria, Vanderbilt University
Learn how base funding and student “weights” work, and why districts with the same number of students can still receive different amounts of funding.
Research Consensus
Research shows that investing in school buildings, facilities, and equipment—capital investments—improves student achievement, especially if it targets basic infrastructure and high-needs school districts.
Policy Notes
- About three fourths of facilities funding for schools comes from local funds, disadvantaging lower-wealth communities that have more difficulty raising taxes.
- Many states offer matching grants for local bonds. While these make it possible for some districts to finance larger projects, they tend to be more beneficial for higher-wealth districts that have the means to approve new taxes. Some states take special measures for low-income districts, which makes it easier for lower-wealth districts to access funding.
- Twenty-four states that offer a credit enhancement program to help school districts issue bonds. This allows low-income and low-wealth districts to qualify for a higher credit rating, increasing the amount of funding they can borrow at no cost to the state. For more information about these programs, see this summary of the effects of state credit enhancement programs.
- Eleven states require supermajority votes to pass school district bonds for facilities construction and repair. Lowering vote thresholds for these measures would make it easier for districts in these states to access resources.
WSF Led To More Rapid Student Achievement Gains in Districts Receiving Concentrated Funding
Main takeaway
Lafortune, J., Herrerra, J., & Gao, N. (2023). Examining the reach of targeted school funding. Public Policy Institute of California.
WSFs Provide More Staffing Flexibility Than Resource-Based Models
Main takeaway
Aldeman, C. (2022, August 2). State funding methods influence schools’ spending decisions. Brookings Institution.
WSF Produced Moderate to Large Student Gains for Low-Income and ELL Students
Main takeaway
Candelaria, C. A., Crutchfield, A. N., & McGill, D. G. (2024). The impact of additional funding on student outcomes: Evidence from an urban district using weighted student funding and site-based budgeting., (EdWorkingPaper 24-1006). Annenberg Institute.
Learn more with audio snippets
Learn how base funding and student “weights” work, and why districts with the same number of students can still receive different amounts of funding.
