50-State Comparison: K-12 and Special Education Funding

Across all 50 states, there are different ways in which states allocate K-12 and special education funding to districts. Education Commission of the States has collected information on states’ primary funding models, base per-student funding amounts, student attendance count methods, and funding for special education, English language learners, students from low-income backgrounds, gifted and talented, and small schools. In addition to identifying which states include mechanisms for base funding and student populations funding, this resource also provides information on how those mechanisms work. For example, how are states identifying students from low-income backgrounds and making allocations to support them?

To classify funding models and mechanisms that appear in state statute, regulations and state education agency documents, Education Commission of the States created definitions for the terms used. Those definitions are found in the K-12 funding glossary and within the relevant pages for each data point.