A new ESSA Data Requirement and Its Potential Impact on the Future of School Spending

In 2019, a new requirement in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)* will require schools to report per-pupil spending data. Currently, school districts allocate their resources however they see fit – evenly across every school, more in schools with higher need, or less in schools with higher need.

Requiring schools to share this data will present an opportunity for parents, advocates and legislators to create change in the way districts allocate their resources. Education Week recently posted a commentary by Ary Amerikaner of the Education Trust urging schools districts to engage equity-minded advocates regarding data to advance student achievement and invest more in those schools that need the most support. Increased data transparency gives school districts a chance to work with partners to address the particular needs in their communities.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) knows and has proven that successfully advancing any strategy is not simply about conducting in-depth research, or identifying messages, or systems building, or stakeholder engagement but rather it is a strategic combination of multiple approaches that are tailored to an organization and its specific goals. Bringing stakeholders together can be challenging, and ACS has created several frameworks to make the process easier. ACS has a deep understanding of early education and K-12 education policy and practice, and how a lens toward equity shapes the policy and practices that affect students. Contact ACS for more information!

*The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed in late 2015 and governs America’s K-12 public education policy, encompassing everything from testing and teacher quality to interventions and assessment and accountability standards.