Education Funding Video

What’s in Store for School Funding for 2026-27?

By Mark Lieberman, Marvin Joseph & Yi-Jo Shen — August 05, 2026 1 min read
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Big changes and fierce debates over school funding are poised to continue playing out nationwide as the new school year begins.

Congress is still far from finished negotiating the federal budget for the 2027-28 school year. High-stakes midterm elections could reshape the balance of power on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across the country. Less than two months later, a new federal tax credit for K-12 scholarships will begin rolling out.

All the while, school districts will continue the perennial work of balancing their budgets, and strategizing their investments.

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An illustration of three school leaders at a desk and one is holding an umbrella. They are all looking up into the sky where a sun is peeking through several clouds that are depicting dollar bills.
Illustration by Robert Neubecker for Education Week

Here’s a deeper look at five takeaways from my recent reporting on the school finance developments to come this school year.

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