News & Commentary - Southerners for Fair School Funding

Fund Students Adequately

Every student deserves a strong foundation, and that begins with making sure state funding covers the real costs of a high-quality education.

Arkansas

Tax cut plan sails through Arkansas legislative committees as special session begins

Arkansas lawmakers advanced what would be the state’s fourth income tax cut in four years Monday despite critics’ warnings that reducing revenue could jeopardize social services.

Louisiana

Louisiana task force reviews possible changes to public school funding formula

Louisiana education leaders are taking a closer look at the formula used to determine how much state money public schools receive.

South Carolina

SC to start spending year without budget in place

When South Carolina begins its next fiscal year Wednesday, the state government won’t have a new budget to direct agencies how to spend money.

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Fund Student Needs Equitably

Every student is different, and funding should reflect that. States must provide extra resources for students who face barriers to learning, including students from low-income backgrounds, English Learners, and students with disabilities.

Tennessee

Should Tennessee fully fund special education pre-K programs?

A top committee of Tennessee educators wants lawmakers to include special education prekindergarten students in the state’s public school funding formula.

National

The Leading Indicator: State Education Finance Issue Thirteen

If higher-poverty schools spend more on average than other schools, does that mean K-12 funding disparities have been solved?

North Carolina

Public School Forum of North Carolina Releases Study Group Report

The Public School Forum of North Carolina has released a new study group report, Weighted Student Funding in North Carolina: Opportunities, Challenges and Recommendations.

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Fund Districts Appropriately

Fund districts appropriately by providing more support to schools in high-poverty and rural areas, where local tax revenue is often low and student needs are high.

Tennessee

Fiscal Capacity 101: A Key Factor in K-12 Education Funding in Tennessee

Tennessee’s state and local governments jointly fund K-12 education.

Virginia

Senate Budget Invests More in Public Schools with Data Center Revenue

https://thecommonwealthinstitute.org/tci_blog/funding-schools-virginia-senate-budget-data-center-rev…

Regional

Who Counts: Why Student Poverty Data Matters More Than Ever

By Juliana Hoover Potash, MPP, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Engagement Posted: February 6, 2026 | …

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Fund Students Transparently & Effectively

Communities deserve to know how school funding works — and whether it’s working. States should provide clear, accessible explanations of how education dollars are allocated, and report regularly on where the money goes and how it’s used.

National

The Numbers Behind the Story: How Data Makes the Case for Fair School Funding Undeniable

The way to really make the case that education is the most worthwhile investment is with data that shows them how big the challenge is, how much it matters, and how much they can help.

Arkansas

Arkansas school funding recommendations advance for 2026, 2027

When the House and Senate education committees unanimously agreed upon per-pupil funding for the nex…

Mississippi

Evidence-Based Interventions to Leverage MSFF Funds

Mississippi First is excited to announce the release of our newest brief: Evidence-Based Interventio…

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Fund Public Schools Exclusively

Public dollars belong in public schools. Taxpayer money should be used to strengthen and support public education, not diverted to private schools or other systems that aren’t accountable to the public.

Arkansas

Over $60 million flowed to top 10 Arkansas private schools receiving Educational Freedom Accounts last school year

Just 10 private schools received more than $60 million in Arkansas taxpayer funds in the 2025-26 school year through the state's school choice program, Arkansas Department of Education data shows.

South Carolina

Most new SC voucher recipients already were being privately educated, state says

Most of the students receiving South Carolina’s state-funded private school scholarships this school year already were being taught outside of the public education system, the S.C. Department of Education told a state representative.

Tennessee

Tennessee Republicans push for significant last-minute ESA voucher expansion

Tennessee Republicans want to drop all enrollment caps and expand eligibility to the state’s initial voucher program, effectively merging Tennessee’s two voucher programs as Gov. Bill Lee pushes lawmakers to provide state dollars to all families who applied to the Education Freedom Scholarships program this year.

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