School districts increasingly rely on weighted student funding (WSF), yet there is little research on this allocation model. This study collects more than 70 measures on each of 19 districts using WSF in 2018 for a landscape analysis of formula features and implementation practices. While districts report common reasons for adopting WSF (equity,…

The spring 2018 teacher strikes or walkouts in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, and North Carolina brought heightened attention to teacher compensation. Similar walk-outs, sick-outs, or strikes occurred early 2019 in Denver, Los Angeles, and Oakland, as well as West Virginia and Kentucky. In all of these actions, teachers were…

In the wake of COVID-19, the U.S. pre-K-12 education system needs more than a refresh. Based on the success and popularity of the Opportunity Culture model, in this brief Public Impact recommends the means to bring critical, effective instructional and emotional supports to millions of teachers and their students--for a price tag the country can…

While the economy may be turning around, local school districts nationwide continue to struggle mightily. The "new normal" of tougher budget times is here to stay for American K-12 education. So how can local officials cope? This policy brief provides a useful tool for navigating the financial challenges of the current school-funding climate,…

Spurred by a deep recession and large budget shortfalls, the California Legislature in 2009 enacted what was arguably the largest change to California's school finance system in decades--relaxing spending restrictions on more than 40 categorical programs through 2012-13, extended later to 2014-15. Categorical funding, which gives school districts…

This year's "Quality Counts" report, the 15th edition of this annual report produced through the joint efforts of the "Education Week" newsroom and the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, arrives at a time of continued fiscal anxiety and education policy ferment in the wake of what has been widely described as the…

If it was not the worst budget cycle in decades, it was one of the worst for school district administrators trying to juggle union-negotiated salary increases, higher fuel and food prices, and federal mandates with less money, district leaders and education experts say. While most districts have increased budgets for the 2008-2009 school year over…

In a personal commentary, the authors of an article published in the Journal of School Finance, "Forecasting the Salaries of Professional Personnel," respond to criticism of their article by Dr. James Fox. (MD)

Data from the 1980 Brazilian Census is used to investigate the issue of whether teachers are overpaid. Human capital and other worker characteristics were standardized and compared. Results are presented, and cautions regarding using teacher salary cuts to balance budgets are offered. (MT)

Presents a profile of school superintendents based on data extracted from four national surveys. Considers the following topics: professional characteristics, personal characteristics, views on education, salaries, and percent of budget allocated to administrative costs. Includes two figures and a description of the four surveys used. (IW)

Offers 12 ideas for making quick, short-term cuts in expenditures when a budget crisis occurs. (JM)

Reports an improved methodology for estimating teacher salary costs well in advance of the fiscal year. The Markov approach, based on probabilistic techniques, provided a more accurate prediction of school district personnel costs than did the traditional deterministic technique for the budget year studied. Includes four tables and nine…

Teacher salaries are the largest item in school budgets but difficult to forecast. Presents a technique for forecasting teacher salaries called transition-based budgeting. This can increase the accuracy of budget projections by 300 percent. (Author/MD)

A variety of formulas attempt to forecast funds available for teacher salaries and fringe benefits. Examines the evaluation of formulas, analyzes the use of formulas, and provides a new process for negotiating teacher salaries and fringe benefits. (MLF)

The Town of Manassas Park (Virginia) officially became a city in 1975; shortly thereafter the State Board of Education certified the city as a separate school division. This report provides data regarding the method of initiating a viable and legal school division for 2,200 students to be in operation by September 1, 1976. Parameters set by city…