Research Brief: Impacts of Student-Weighted Funding

Abstract

Student weighted funding is the most widely used means to ensure schools have enough money to provide for the differing needs of students. However, research suggests the benefits of student weighted funding go well beyond adequate resources for specific-needs students, offering significant improvements in (1) general education programming; (2) more targeted and efficient usage of tax dollars, and (3) long-term benefits including higher property values, improved business investments, and lower social costs. While there are considerable differences in how effective student weighted formulae are, they provide the capacity for a more efficient and calibrated use of tax dollars with community-wide benefits.