In spring 2025, the Arkansas Secretary of Education created an Education Task Force to explore the state’s Comprehensive Investment in Student Achievement funding model. In partnership with the task force, Bellwether developed a public report comparing Arkansas’ school funding system to regional peers and national best practices.
These resources are meant to inform the task force’s discussions and help the public better understand opportunities to improve funding.
Setting a Benchmark: An Analysis of Arkansas’ K-12 Education Finance System focuses on two big questions:
- How does Arkansas’ school finance system compare to other states, and to national research-based best practices in school funding to support student outcomes?
- What does the data reveal about where improvements may be needed?
This analysis aims to give policymakers and community members clear, evidence-based insights as Arkansas considers updates to its school funding system.
