Per Pupil Expenditure Data De-Wonk the Talk: Per Pupil Expenditure Data Brennan McMahon Parton | Associate Director, State Policy and Advocacy

Like a report card for academics, this data helps us understand how well different resources are working to meet student needs.

Other than because it is required in ESSA, why do you think it’s important to report school level spending to the public? Who do you expect to be the primary audience for this information? Who do you HOPE looks at this information? How does reporting school-level spending data help you meet your state’s education goals?

How Do We Talk About Per-Pupil Spending? Stay simple. Not everyone is a data expert. The “why” is more important than the “what.” Don’t explain away concerns with definitions. Focus on the goals: when it comes to tough press, acknowledge the data, reference your broader goals, have a plan of attack. Help people understand tradeoffs. Sometimes it may look like more spending at the district level, but it reduces burden and costs for schools so they can focus on what matters.

Bring it back to the big idea. This information is part of a bigger picture that helps us understand what works for students in our community.