With education systems across the country facing an increasingly challenging fiscal environment, state departments of education and local school districts are being forced to make difficult decisions about how to leverage limited dollars to best meet the needs of students. During these difficult budget periods, state leaders are uniquely positioned to support school districts.

As a follow-up on two previous “Silent Recession” reports, this paper describes state-level strategies for helping school districts address rising education costs and deploy resources strategically to improve student outcomes.

The strategies focus on three key areas: special education, educator compensation and benefits, and revenue generation. The paper draws from research literature, a media review, and interviews with state leaders, directors of regional education-focused nonprofits, and leading education researchers.

The paper is prefaced with commentary from the authors on new challenges and considerations resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.

Download the Executive Summary and Other “Silent Recession” Papers: