• Experts
  • Events
  • Research Programs
  • Research & Commentary
  • Newsletters
  • For Media
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Our Commitments
    • Our Finances
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • BI Press
    • WashU at Brookings
  • Donate
Home
  • U.S. Trade Policy
    U.S. Trade Policy
    • U.S. Economy
    • Banking & Finance
    • Economic Indicators
    • Federal Fiscal & Tax Policy
    • Federal Reserve
    • Labor & Unemployment
    • Regulatory Policy
    • Retirement
    • Social Safety Net
    • State & Local Finance
    • U.S. Trade Policy
    Explore topic
    Why Trump will blink first on China
    Why Trump will blink first on China
    Why Trump will blink first on China
    April 2025 update to TIGER: The world economy shudders and could stall
    April 2025 update to TIGER: The world economy shudders and could stall
    April 2025 update to TIGER: The world economy shudders and could stall
    Trump loses public support during his first 3 months in office
    Trump loses public support during his first 3 months in office
    Trump loses public support during his first 3 months in office
  • International Affairs
    International Affairs
    • International Affairs
    • Democracy, Conflict, & Governance
    • Diplomacy & Multilateralism
    • Foreign Politics & Elections
    • Fragile States
    • Geopolitics
    • Humanitarian & Disaster Assistance
    • Migrants, Refugees & Internally Displaced Persons
    • Trafficking & Illicit Trade
    • U.S. Foreign Policy
    Explore topic
    Talking US national security with returning Senior Fellow Thomas Wright
    Talking US national security with returning Senior Fellow Thomas Wright
    Talking US national security with returning Senior Fellow Thomas Wright
    Merz averted disaster, but the knives are out
    Merz averted disaster, but the knives are out
    Merz averted disaster, but the knives are out
    The Transatlantic Bridge: Jakub Klepal on civil society’s role in sustaining democracy
    The Transatlantic Bridge: Jakub Klepal on civil society’s role in sustaining democracy
    The Transatlantic Bridge: Jakub Klepal on civil society’s role in sustaining democracy
  • U.S. Government & Politics
    U.S. Government & Politics
    • U.S. Government & Politics
    • Campaigns & Elections
    • Congress
    • Courts & Law
    • Government Reform
    • Political Parties
    • Political Polarization
    • Presidency
    • Public Opinion
    • U.S. Democracy
    Explore topic
    Louisiana raises the stakes in the state abortion wars
    Louisiana raises the stakes in the state abortion wars
    Louisiana raises the stakes in the state abortion wars
    New OMB memos signal continuity in federal AI policy
    New OMB memos signal continuity in federal AI policy
    New OMB memos signal continuity in federal AI policy
    Merz averted disaster, but the knives are out
    Merz averted disaster, but the knives are out
    Merz averted disaster, but the knives are out
  • Technology & Information
    Technology & Information
    • Technology & Information
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Cybersecurity
    • Internet & Telecommunications
    • Media & Journalism
    • Privacy
    • Social Media
    • Space Exploration
    • Technology Policy & Regulation
    Explore topic
    New OMB memos signal continuity in federal AI policy
    New OMB memos signal continuity in federal AI policy
    New OMB memos signal continuity in federal AI policy
    Building regional capacity for AI safety and security in Africa
    Building regional capacity for AI safety and security in Africa
    Building regional capacity for AI safety and security in Africa
    What happens to DOGE when Elon Musk is gone?
    What happens to DOGE when Elon Musk is gone?
    What happens to DOGE when Elon Musk is gone?
  • Race in Public Policy
    Race in Public Policy
    • Society & Culture
    • Children & Families
    • Crime, Justice & Safety
    • Demographics & Population
    • Economic Security & Mobility
    • Human Rights & Civil Liberties
    • Immigrants & Immigration
    • Race in Public Policy
    • Religion & Society
    • Social Equity & Inclusion
    Explore topic
    In Washington, DC and elsewhere, ‘tough-on-crime’ policies make cities less safe
    In Washington, DC and elsewhere, ‘tough-on-crime’ policies make cities less safe
    In Washington, DC and elsewhere, ‘tough-on-crime’ policies make cities less safe
    What are the economic and legal implications of President Trump’s DEI and LGBTQIA executive orders?
    What are the economic and legal implications of President Trump’s  DEI and LGBTQIA executive orders?
    What are the economic and legal implications of President Trump’s DEI and LGBTQIA executive orders?
    Closing the racial gap in economic and social power
    Closing the racial gap in economic and social power
    Closing the racial gap in economic and social power
  • Topics
    • Business & Workforce
      Business & Workforce
    • Cities & Communities
      Cities & Communities
    • Climate & Energy
      Climate & Energy
    • Defense & Security
      Defense & Security
    • Education
      Education
    • Global Economy & Development
      Global Economy & Development
    • Health Care
      Health Care
    • International Affairs
      International Affairs
    • Society & Culture
      Society & Culture
    • Technology & Information
      Technology & Information
    • U.S. Economy
      U.S. Economy
    • U.S. Government & Politics
      U.S. Government & Politics
  • Regions
    • Africa
      Africa
    • Asia & the Pacific
      Asia & the Pacific
    • Europe & Eurasia
      Europe & Eurasia
    • Latin America & the Caribbean
      Latin America & the Caribbean
    • Middle East & North Africa
      Middle East & North Africa
    • North America
      North America
Search
Home
  • U.S. Trade Policy
  • International Affairs
  • U.S. Government & Politics
  • Technology & Information
  • Race in Public Policy
  • All Topics
  • All Regions
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Research Programs
  • About Us
  • Research & Commentary
  • Newsletters
  • Careers
  • For Media

Paying for School

How are elementary and secondary schools in the United States financed, and why does per-pupil funding vary so much across communities? Which communities benefit from high levels of school funding, and which miss out? How has this changed over time, and what can states and the federal government do to make funding for schools more equitable? This series addresses these and other questions related to how we pay for school in the United States.

Funding high-poverty school districts: Federal policy tools and the limits of incentives
school desk and chair with calculator
Education Funding high-poverty school districts: Federal policy tools and the limits of incentives

Sarah Reber, Nora Gordon

December 21, 2023

A primer on elementary and secondary education in the United States
School hallway
Education A primer on elementary and secondary education in the United States

Sarah Reber, Nora Gordon

April 21, 2023

A deep dive on how Title I funds are allocated
school building
K-12 Education A deep dive on how Title I funds are allocated

Sarah Reber, Nora Gordon

February 1, 2023

School vs. district level views of school spending inequality and progressivity: Evidence from Florida and Illinois
picture of a classroom
Education School vs. district level views of school spending inequality and progressivity: Evidence from Florida and Illinois

Sarah Reber

September 27, 2022

Select experts

Select program

Select topics

Select regions

Filter by
Language
Date

Get the latest from Brookings

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • youtube
  • instagram

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels.

Donate
  • Research Programs
  • Governance Studies
  • Economic Studies
  • Foreign Policy
  • Global Economy and Development
  • Brookings Metro
  • About Us
  • Leadership
  • Careers
  • Brookings Institution Press
  • WashU at Brookings
  • Contact Brookings
  • Research & Commentary
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Books
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • Privacy Policy, Updated August 2024
  • Terms of Use, Updated August 2024

Copyright 2025 The Brookings Institution