Education Dept Seeks Comments on School Finance Survey Renewal
Published Date: 4/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education wants to keep collecting school finance data from states and local schools from 2025 to 2027, just like before. They’re asking for your thoughts by May 27, 2026, to make sure this data helps improve education without causing extra hassle or costs. This survey helps track how schools spend money to support students nationwide.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
States and Localities Keep Reporting
State, local, and tribal governments must continue to provide school-level finance data to the Department of Education under the SLFS for 2025–2027. The notice estimates 325 annual responses and a total of 6,535 annual burden hours for respondents. The public comment deadline for this extension is May 27, 2026.
States Keep Tools To Measure Resource Allocation
State education agencies will continue to receive and produce uniform, comparable school-level finance statistics through the SLFS for 2025–2027 so states can measure how resources are allocated across schools and districts. The SLFS uses uniform definitions in the NCES Financial Accounting handbook and covers all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
Parents Get Comparable School Spending Data
You (as a parent or guardian) will have access to uniform, national school-level spending data for prekindergarten through 12th grade, showing salaries, benefits, and current expenditures by function. That information is collected under the SLFS for 2025–2027 and is intended to help you compare how schools spend funds to support students.
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