[RALEIGH, NC] (August 26, 2026) — The Public School Forum of North Carolina has released a new study group report, Weighted Student Funding in North Carolina: Opportunities, Challenges and Recommendations. Beginning in the spring of 2024, the Public School Forum convened a statewide group of over 100 education leaders, elected officials, and school finance experts, including local superintendents, teachers, principals, nonprofit and association representatives, bipartisan legislators and staff, and leaders from the State Board of Education and the NC Department of Public Instruction to evaluate needs and opportunities for strengthening North Carolina’s school funding system, and to explore the potential impact of implementing a new weighted student funding model.
“As a former school superintendent, I know firsthand that student success relies on a clear, equitable, and sustainable funding strategy tailored to the needs of every classroom across North Carolina. The work of this study group represents an extraordinarily thorough, collaborative effort to evaluate our state’s school finance structure,” said Public School Forum President & CEO Dr. Anthony Jackson. “I am deeply proud of the quality and depth of this report, and I encourage education leaders, community members, and lawmakers to closely examine its findings as we work together to build a stronger funding model for all students.”
Weighted student funding is an approach to school funding that allocates dollars for each enrolled student based on their specific needs. Weighted student funding formulas consist of a uniform base amount allocated to all students, with additional funding provided for eligible students based on specific individual or community characteristics. Weighted student funding formulas commonly implement specific weights for students with disabilities, those who are economically disadvantaged, multilingual learners, and children living in areas of concentrated poverty or sparse populations.
In partnership with national experts from Bellwether, the Forum analyzed state education data to build model prototypes and an interactive simulator, which enabled participants to examine how different funding formulas would impact district funding levels and student supports across the state. The group collaboratively established a set of guiding principles, non-negotiables, and recommendations to assist state leaders as they continue to explore possibilities for North Carolina’s school funding model.
Study Group Guiding Principles:
- Robust
- Supportive
- Transparent
- Predictable/Stable
- Responsible
- Flexible
Study Group Non-Negotiables:
- No Districts Should Lose Funding
- Evaluation for Change
- Implementation Support
Study Group Recommendations:
- Align Any Formula with the Study Group’s Guiding Principles and Non-negotiables
- Significantly Increase Investment in Public Schools
- Target Investment to the Students and Communities Who Need it Most
- Continuously Evaluate and Improve the State’s School Funding Formula
“For more than a decade, state leaders in North Carolina have discussed the possibility of transitioning to a weighted student funding model. Our research demonstrates the potential benefits that weighted student funding could offer– and that realizing those potential benefits will depend entirely on the specific formula design, overall investment levels, and how changes are implemented,” remarked Public School Forum Sr. Director of Policy & Research Dr. Lauren Fox. “The guiding principles, non-negotiables, and recommendations outlined in the report reflect the wide range of perspectives represented by our study group participants and provide a strong foundation for continued conversations on funding reform.”
To view a full digital copy of the report and examine individual school district data projections, visit ncforum.org/wsf
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About the Public School Forum of North Carolina
Since our founding in 1985 as a nonpartisan “think and do tank,” the Public School Forum of North Carolina has been a champion of better schools and one of the most trusted sources in the state for research and analysis on vital education issues. In order to provide meaningful action on our state’s most important public education issues, we bring together leaders from business, education and government to study education issues, develop ideas, and ultimately inform and shape education policy. We do this through research, policy work, innovative programs, advocacy, and continuing education for educators and policymakers. Follow us on social media at @theNCForum and visit our website at ncforum.org
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