The majority of states with a weighted, student-based K-12 funding formula include weights that allocate additional funding based on the enrollment of students in poverty, students with special education needs, and English learners (ELs). Research shows that all three of these student groups need additional support and resources to succeed. Many states also include other weights that are not strictly student-based. These might reflect a policy priority or aim to account for different program costs and district context factors. Weights that go beyond a strict student-based definition are not necessarily a bad idea, but some weights can have unintended consequences for students and overall funding equity, and should be approached with care and caution by policymakers and advocates. This brief discusses the following weights that states should consider with caution: (1) gifted and talented; (2) grade level or grade band; (3) career and technical education; (4) class size reductions; and (5) cost of living adjustments.