Each state must provide adequate and equitable financial support for public education within its boundaries. NASBE supports the following concepts:

Leadership for Education Funding

Responsibility for Federal Funds

Funding of Mandated Programs

Equitable Funding Distribution

Funding for Nonpublic Schools

Funding Nutrition Programs

School Trust Lands

Education Budget Priorities

A. Leadership for Education Funding

State boards should lead efforts to initiate and revise educational funding to provide quality education for all students enrolled in public schools. This leadership should include:

1. informing state legislators and all other citizens of the financial needs of public schools;
2. accounting to them for the use made of state funds and the accomplishments of the public school system; and
3. advocating, in coalition with state policymakers, local districts and other stakeholders, for consistent funding mechanisms to ensure that all students attend schools with adequate facilities and equipment. (1997)

B. Responsibility for Federal Funds

Each state education agency should receive, administer, and account for all federal education funds. Local school districts should implement these specific expenditures within federal and state guidelines.

C. Funding of Mandated Programs

Whenever state or federal mandates result in added costs to state agencies or local districts, the mandating authority should provide funding to defray such costs.

D. Equitable Funding Distribution

State boards should advocate school finance mechanisms that distribute education resources equitably across the state and help reduce funding disparities between rich and poor districts.

E. Funding for Nonpublic Schools

There should be no use of public funds nor tax credits given for vouchers or scholarships to nonpublic schools.

F. Funding Nutrition Programs

Since adequate nourishment for children is critical to their health and ability to learn, state and federal funding to assure adequate maternal and child nutrition should be a high priority.

G. School Trust Lands

1. States should make every effort to maximize financial returns from school trust lands. (1996)
2. When school trust lands are included in open space or federal preserves such as national parks, national monuments and national forests, there should be adequate, just and timely compensation for these claims. (1996) (2003)

H. Education Budget Priorities

Budget priorities in difficult economic times should place highest priority on areas directly affecting student achievement. (2009)