Better information about how investments in education are influencing outcomes for students, schools, and districts is needed. The growing hunger for using financial data to answer more and evolving questions will require changes in systems, policy, practice, and culture. The problem at hand is that both people and systems have limited capacity to make use of financial information to best understand how education dollars, and the resources they buy, influence outcomes for districts, schools, and critically, students. Collecting clear, accurate financial data and linking those data to education input and outcome data--including teacher effectiveness and student achievement--will provide decisionmakers a clearer picture of how personnel, programs, and instructional resources are working and will help them understand these resources' value relative to education priorities. States must take the lead in changing policies and collaborating with and supporting districts to better use financial information. This report offers recommendations for state leaders on how to make this happen.