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Investing in Improvement: A Critical Look at Funding for Low-Performing Schools

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Title: Investing in Improvement: A Critical Look at Funding for Low-Performing Schools
Language: English
Authors: Damon Blair (ORCID 0009-0002-5666-9670), Drew Atchison (ORCID 0000-0003-3960-8323), Kerstin Carlson Le Floch (ORCID 0000-0002-2580-3059)
Source: Educational Policy. 2026 40(1):3-40.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 38
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A200254
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Educational Improvement, Educational Finance, Investment, Expenditure per Student, Federal Legislation, Elementary Secondary Education, Educational Legislation, School Turnaround, Accountability, School Support, Low Achievement, Educational Resources, Resource Allocation, Educational Equity (Finance), Equal Education, Student Characteristics, Federal Aid
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
DOI: 10.1177/08959048251318626
ISSN: 0895-9048
1552-3896
Abstract: This paper examines the financial resources allocated to Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in the United States. Our analyses demonstrate that CSI schools do receive additional funding and spend more than comparable non-CSI schools. However, we question whether the magnitude of this support is sufficient to promote meaningful improvement for these schools. Our research reveals that CSI schools receive and spend about $345 more per pupil compared with non-CSI schools, but to elevate low-performing schools to the average performance of non-CSI schools would require a significantly larger investment, between $8,000 and $21,000 per pupil yearly. The existing financial support associated with accountability designations is insufficient to support the improvement activities of low-performing schools. We argue for increased and sustained funding for low-performing schools, coupled with support in decision-making and accountability for resource allocation.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1490841
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Investing in Improvement: A Critical Look at Funding for Low-Performing Schools
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Damon+Blair%22">Damon Blair</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5666-9670">0009-0002-5666-9670</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Drew+Atchison%22">Drew Atchison</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3960-8323">0000-0003-3960-8323</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kerstin+Carlson+Le+Floch%22">Kerstin Carlson Le Floch</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2580-3059">0000-0002-2580-3059</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Policy%22"><i>Educational Policy</i></searchLink>. 2026 40(1):3-40.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 38
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Improvement%22">Educational Improvement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Finance%22">Educational Finance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Investment%22">Investment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expenditure+per+Student%22">Expenditure per Student</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Legislation%22">Federal Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Legislation%22">Educational Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Turnaround%22">School Turnaround</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accountability%22">Accountability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Support%22">School Support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Achievement%22">Low Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Resources%22">Educational Resources</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resource+Allocation%22">Resource Allocation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Equity+%28Finance%29%22">Educational Equity (Finance)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Aid%22">Federal Aid</searchLink>
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  Label: Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Every+Student+Succeeds+Act+2015%22">Every Student Succeeds Act 2015</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/08959048251318626
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  Data: 0895-9048<br />1552-3896
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This paper examines the financial resources allocated to Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in the United States. Our analyses demonstrate that CSI schools do receive additional funding and spend more than comparable non-CSI schools. However, we question whether the magnitude of this support is sufficient to promote meaningful improvement for these schools. Our research reveals that CSI schools receive and spend about $345 more per pupil compared with non-CSI schools, but to elevate low-performing schools to the average performance of non-CSI schools would require a significantly larger investment, between $8,000 and $21,000 per pupil yearly. The existing financial support associated with accountability designations is insufficient to support the improvement activities of low-performing schools. We argue for increased and sustained funding for low-performing schools, coupled with support in decision-making and accountability for resource allocation.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1490841
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1490841
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/08959048251318626
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 38
        StartPage: 3
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Educational Improvement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Finance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Investment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Expenditure per Student
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Turnaround
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Accountability
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      – SubjectFull: School Support
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      – SubjectFull: Low Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Resources
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resource Allocation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Equity (Finance)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equal Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Investing in Improvement: A Critical Look at Funding for Low-Performing Schools
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            NameFull: Damon Blair
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            NameFull: Drew Atchison
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            NameFull: Kerstin Carlson Le Floch
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 0895-9048
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              Value: 1552-3896
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