Navigating Federal Changes in Education Funding for Student Success
Hosted by the Learning Policy Institute
Co-sponsored by Education Commission of the States and National Association of State Boards of Education
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this video belong solely to the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the perspective of the Learning Policy Institute.
Shifts in federal education funding—including changes to competitive grants and reductions to state formula programs—are reshaping how states support schools and students. Legislators and education leaders must understand these changes and their implications to ensure resources reach those who need them most. During this webinar, speakers from LPI and Education Commission of the States provided an overview of the current federal and state education funding landscape, followed by legislators from Montana and New Mexico sharing insights on their states' approaches to complex education funding challenges.
This webinar was part of a three-part series meant to offer timely, nonpartisan research and real-world policy solutions, drawing from a broad range of state experiences. LPI and partners developed the 2026 Legislative Prep Series: Education Challenges and Solutions to give policymakers and others a leg up on the 2026 legislative session with the most up-to-date research, tools, and examples of effective, evidence-based state policy approaches.
Speakers
- Opening | Elena Silva, President and CEO, Learning Policy Institute
- Research Presentation
- Michael Griffith, Senior Fellow, Learning Policy Institute
- Chris Duncombe, Principal, Education Commission of the States
- Montana | Llew Jones, Representative, Montana State Legislature
- New Mexico | William P. Soules, State Senator, New Mexico Senate
LPI Resources
- Funding Student Needs: A Review of State Funding Policies for English Learners and Students From Low-Income Backgrounds
- How Money Matters: Education Funding and Student Outcomes
- $5 Billion in Federal Funding for Nine K–12 Formula Grant Programs Hangs in the Balance Between White House and Senate Proposals
- The Implications of H.R. 1 for School Funding and What States Can Do
ECS Resources
