The Opportunity of Resource Allocation Reviews

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states must conduct resource allocation reviews to support high-need districts. Districts and schools identified for improvement are then charged to take action to address the resource inequities their students face. Too easily, this process can become a meaningless compliance exercise—one where states and districts simply learn and follow the rules of ESSA. But resource allocation reviews give state and district leaders an opporurtunity to lead and drive change for students.

When ERS talks about resources, we focus both on how much and how well—how much funding is spent based on need, but also how well that funding is used in practice. In this presentation, we explore the importance of resources and seven elements of an effective resource allocation review. We shared these slides at a recent event hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers and offered tips for ESSA reviews at a webinar hosted by EdWeek.