Strategic Funding and Finance Center

The Strategic Funding and Finance Content Center (SFF) helps states and districts create strategies and systems to better align educational resources with priority needs.

Center

The Strategic Funding and Finance Center at AIR partners with state education agencies, school districts, and local leaders across the United States to help them understand, coordinate, and optimize federal, state, and local funding streams to support student success.

Our work strengthens the capacity of states and districts to flexibly design efficient and transparent education finance systems that serve all students. Some of our work includes:

Education Funding and Finance

SFF provides clear, accessible guidance to help leaders navigate and communicate foundational school finance concepts. Visit the center's website to access resources .

State education agencies and local districts operate in complex funding environments with varied terminology, formulas, and requirements. Without a shared understanding among policymakers and practitioners, states struggle to design fair, compliant funding approaches that meet federal expectations and align with state strategic plans.

Susan Bowles Therriault
Institute Fellow

I'm consistently struck by how leaders everywhere face similar funding challenges—silos, unclear rules, and limited capacity to ensure that funds are spent according to student need. Regardless of agency size, there is a common need for practical guidance on strategic fund use.

Susan Bowles Therriault
Institute Fellow

Building State Capacity to Leverage Educational Funding Flexibility

SFF helps states use federal funds to support state initiatives without unwarranted constraints and support local education agencies in employing educational funding flexibility, to help realize meaningful outcomes for students.

Local education leaders often face challenges in understanding complex funding regulations and coordinating multiple funding streams. Supporting local education leaders in braiding and blending funding sources effectively, such as braiding ESEA Title funds with state and local funds, is a critical way for states to exercise flexibility in the use of federal funds to serve students and raise academic achievement.

Stephanie Levin
Senior Researcher

SFF develops tools to help state and district leaders shift from compliance to strategic resource allocation, funding policies, and rural finance. We collaborate with states and districts to create transparent, sustainable solutions that address practical needs.

Stephanie Levin
Senior Researcher

Building State Capacity for Strategic Resource Use

SFF helps agencies strengthen their capacity to guide and leverage RARs for meaningful, data‑driven decision‑making.

Under ESEA, states must ensure fair and effective allocation of resources, yet many lack the staff and tools needed to support districts in conducting high‑quality Resource Allocation Reviews (RARs). Without targeted assistance, RARs risk functioning only as compliance exercises rather than informing strategic improvement.

Rural School Finance

SFF partners with rural districts and state leaders to identify funding gaps and develop strategies that promote stability and equity for rural schools.

Rural districts nationwide face unique financial pressures—from declining enrollment to the diversion of funds to vouchers and charter schools. These challenges often force budget cuts, school consolidations, regionalization, or closures, affecting educational quality and community stability. Many state agencies lack the capacity to provide sustained support, and rural leaders frequently have limited resources for addressing funding concerns with solutions like strategically braiding funding sources.

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