College affordability has been an urgent concern in the context of Texas higher education. In September 2003, the Texas Legislature passed HB 3015 (2003) to allow governing boards of public universities to set different designated tuition rates, with no upper limit. As a result, tuition at four-year colleges and universities in Texas has…

New America and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) partnered to track responses of state higher education agencies and systems on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected state funding for public higher education. The pandemic has depressed economic activity and led to increased costs for states, both of which can…

The eligibility rules of state financial aid programs vary widely by state and by program. This is also true of eligibility rules pertaining to students impacted by the justice system. This goal of this resource is to enable stakeholders to compare eligibility requirements pertaining to justice system impact across major aid programs and…

Summer is a time of enrichment, discovery, and fun for many students. But for others, especially those from low-income families, summer means time away from the support and resources that facilitate learning and social and emotional growth. Hundreds of school districts across the United States are committed to changing this opportunity gap. RAND…

Presently, charter schools exist in 43 states. The Minnesota Legislature first created charter schools in the United States in 1991. As of 2018, there were nearly 7,000 charter schools in 43 states serving over approximately 3 million students. The creation, control, and mission of these schools varies from state to state. This analysis examines…

The data provided in this issue of "DataPoints" (examining the percent of public two-year college students receiving select aid types between academic years 2003-04 and 2015-16) shows that community college students were more likely to receive federal aid immediately following the Great Recession.

Higher education appropriations are often referred to as the "balance wheel" for state budgets, receiving greater than average funding reductions during economic downturns and above average increases during periods of economic growth. However, this trend has gradually diminished with each recession as higher education funding no longer…

The rapidly evolving workplace has created a shortage of skilled and educated workers in many fields, leaving essential jobs unfilled and millions of adults unqualified for them. This policy brief summarizes statewide strategies to support financial assistance for students in programs designed to address workforce needs. It includes suggestions…

California delivers Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education using performance-based instruction and assessment. This ensures English language learners are prepared to participate in society as workers, parents, and active community members. This article describes the 20-year-old program's history, structure, requirements, and successes.

Previous measures of the incidence of public investment in higher education focus on the transfer to public college students. This implies that the net benefits to students who do not attend public colleges is negative. However, they miss potential general equilibrium effects on the private college and labor markets. Changes in the public college…

This study uses fiscal data reported by traditional public school districts between 2000 and 2017 to generate descriptive estimates of the relationship between the local market share of independent charter schools and the finances of host school districts in twenty-one states. The research questions for the study are as follows: (1) On average,…

Facing a 32% drop in state funding of higher education over the last decade, state universities are reluctant to raise tuition and, even if willing, many state governments have placed limits on how much tuition could be raised. If teaching and research are normal goods in the utility functions of university presidents, public universities must…

Safety Net funding is available to local education agencies (LEAs) that demonstrate a need for special education funding in excess of state and federal funding available to the LEA. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) publishes an annual Safety Net bulletin and application forms. House Bill 2242, Sec. 408 (2017) directed the…

There are two models that determine higher education funding in the state of Arkansas. The state uses a Need-Based Model in tandem with a Performance Based Model. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) is tasked with making recommendations to state lawmakers regarding budgets of public institutions of higher education. The Arkansas…

Massachusetts' 15 community colleges play a vital role in connecting more than 100,000 residents each year with postsecondary educational opportunities and skills training. These schools have a unique opportunity to prepare students for in-demand career fields. Community college students make up the most diverse population within the state's…