Costs & Funding

Find out how to balance your budget – from funding, purchasing and procurement; to construction and maintenance/operations costs; bond issues and endowments, and more...

Featured

  • Campus Funding

    How These Financing Strategies Can Help Georgia School Districts Jump-Start Big Capital Projects

    With high inflation, supply shortages, and high costs of labor, the ability for district leadership to make the financing work has become more challenging. In Georgia, home to some of the nation’s largest school districts, there are numerous financing options available to schools that help them navigate these hurdles. 06/17/2024

  • K–12 Grants

    The Important Role of Data to Maximize Grant Funding

    Federal and state governments announce available funds to public school districts throughout the year. These are usually tens or hundreds of millions of dollars meant to help schools with infrastructure upgrades or replacements. There’s a catch to all these grants, though: Schools must apply for the funding through an oftentimes complicated and detailed application process with a strict deadline. 05/17/2024

  • ESSER Funds

    How $122 Billion in School Funding Is Fueling Nationwide Construction

    Congress appropriated an extremely large amount of funding for school projects, and the final round allocations totaled $122 billion. That’s a huge amount – about $380 per person in the U.S. This revenue came through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program and was delivered with a mandated deadline: It must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2024. 02/27/2024

  • HVAC
    ESSER Funds for HVAC

    How ESSER Funds Can Help with HVAC Upgrades

    The importance of HVAC units in schools was brought to the forefront when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in the early parts of 2020. The federal government also took notice as they issued approximately $190 billion in COVID relief funds through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). 05/15/2023

  • person using calculator across from someone using a computer

    How Schools Can Maximize COVID Relief Funds

    ESSER and EANS funds are designed to help schools reopen quickly and safely, as well as address the months of significant learning loss by U.S. students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only now are experts beginning to understand the full scope of learning loss brought on by a year-plus of the pandemic – and initial reports are worrying. 10/01/2021

  • Schools Reopen with Federal Dollars

    10/01/2021
  • COVID-19 and Schools
    Stimulus Funding and School Infrastructure

    How Stimulus Funding Can Tackle School Infrastructure Updates

    As schools and universities prepare for the return of students and faculty after nearly a year of remote learning, many are faced with growing concerns around how to keep facilities safe in the post-pandemic world. This is doubly true when considering that crucial HVAC and building management systems (BMS) are often outdated and in need of replacement. 08/11/2021

  • HVAC & IAQ
    man cleaning ventilation screen

    Healthy Air Must Flow

    05/01/2021
  • Solar Energy
    Professor Randall Ellingson receives grant from U.S. Air Force

    U Toledo Developing Solar Sheets to Generate Power in Space

    The University of Toledo just received a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the U.S. Air Force to develop flexible solar cell sheets for space. The photovoltaic energy sheets will be used to collect solar energy for powering Earth-based receivers or other orbital or aerial instrumentation, such as communications satellites. 02/26/2021

  • Business
    Accountant using a calculator.

    Looking Beyond Personnel Reductions for Cost-Cutting Solutions

    It will be critical for institutions to look at new ways to generate revenue and reduce expenses that are sustainable and effective. There are several initiatives that institutions can consider or implement in response to the crisis. 01/15/2021

  • Adaptive Reuse
    The volume of the existing structure of CEC Fort Collins High School offered an opportunity to bring daylight in from above, creating a community space within the hallway.

    Adaptive Reuse Offers Schools an Opportunity to Innovate, Embrace Sustainability and Reduce Costs

    As the education industry assimilates to a new and uncertain future, we can take one lesson from 2020 with us: we must embrace innovative solutions and have the courage to try new things as we plan for the future. Adaptive reuse can support this endeavor. 11/16/2020

  • Procurement
    cooperative purchasing for schools

    Trends in Cooperative Purchasing

    School districts see value in using cooperative purchasing entities as they get a steady, predictable pricing structure and supplier source. 07/01/2020

  • Building Envelopes
    workers on lift cleaning windows

    From Cradle to Grave: The Cost of a Building

    When a system shows signs of failing, what is the most cost-effective course of action an owner should take? Does the owner replace the system or close the facility? 03/01/2020

  • Guest Viewpoint

    Turnkey Renovation Solutions for A+ Aesthetics

    A few solutions to minimize renovation costs and support sustainablity goals. 11/01/2019

  • Technology Infrastructure

    Federal Ed Tech Funding Under Evaluation for 2020

    The nearly $4 billion FCC program enters its fifth year since funding for networking infrastructure became available to schools and libraries. This article examines recent action taken by the FCC that could change how these institutions can access funds beginning in 2020. 08/08/2019

  • Funding

    Smart Schools Bond Funds Ed Tech and Infrastructure in 90 Districts

    New York has announced the latest round of districts and schools to receive funding through the "Smart Schools Bond Act." That bond was passed in 2014-2015 and approved the issuing of some $2 billion in general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure. 07/16/2019

  • Business Practices

    Benefits

    07/01/2019
  • Facilities (Learning Spaces)
    deferred maintenance at school steps

    Why Deferring Maintenance Now Will Cost You Later

    Your environment is more than simply the place you are; the atmosphere you occupy affects you on a biological level, sending signals to your body and mind that influence your health in a variety of ways. 07/01/2019

  • Cashing in on Campus Space

    Improved space scheduling can generate cash for colleges and universities. Here’s how. 05/16/2019

  • Wallace School Iowa

    Specifier's Report: Outfitting 21st-Century Educational Facilities

    Here's what administrators have to say about specifying products that best serve the needs of the school or district. 04/01/2019

  • Washington Update

    As in most years, the President’s budget request is dead on arrival when it is announced. This year is not much different than those in the past. However, with a divided government, the budget and appropriations process gets a bit more challenging and interesting. The 03/21/2019

  • Washington Update: FY2020 Budget Request, Dead on Arrival

    As the current administration's FY2020 proposed budget is released, the work is cut out for both houses’ appropriations and budget committees to meet the deadlines to finalize a FY 2020 budget. But like in most past years, the likelihood of meeting it is a far reach. 03/21/2019

  • Business (Managing Higher Ed)
    purchasing and procurement

    Educated Buying

    Building and maintaining diverse purchasing and procurement capabilities for colleges and universities is educated buying. 03/01/2019

  • Editor's Note (The View From Here)

    School Construction Continues to Increase

    01/01/2019
  • Business (Managing K-12 Education)

    Smart Buy

    Cooperative purchasing helps K-12 school districts keep the shelves fully stocked while saving money. 11/01/2018

  • Business Practices (Achieving Administrative Excellence)

    Smart Buying

    Purchasing through cooperatives can help a college or university remain fully stocked with supplies while saving money for both the institution and its students. 11/01/2018

  • Washington Update: Changes in Congress or Business as Usual?

    10/19/2018
  • Editor's Note (The View From Here)

    School Year Begins!

    09/01/2018
  • Celebrate Anniversaries. Break a World Record.

    Colleges and universities are creating unique PR and engagement opportunities through record-breaking anniversary marketing campaigns. 08/03/2018

  • Washington Update: It’s Crunch Time

    07/20/2018
  • Washington Update: It’s Crunch Time

    07/20/2018
  • Business
    facilities management

    Taking Stock of Your Facilities

    Colleges and universities can improve facilities management and maximize budget efficiency through comprehensive, campus-wide assessments. 07/01/2018

  • Business Practices

    Budget Flexibility as the Key to Sustainability

    07/01/2018
  • Editor's Note (The View From Here)

    The Condition of Education and the Education Marketplace

    07/01/2018
  • Business (Managing K-12 Education)
    school facility costs

    School Facilities: What Do They Really Cost?

    In this article, we explore lifecycle costs and vital factors to consider in order to make the most cost-effective choices for your facilities. 07/01/2018

  • The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Congressional Spending Deal and Trump’s Proposed Education Budget

    02/19/2018
  • Searching for Savings

    Facing enrollment pressures, colleges and universities will look to facilities for cost savings in 2018. 02/15/2018

  • Business (Managing K-12 Education)
    procurement

    Procurement: An Emerging K-12 Profession

    As K-12 school districts have grown in size and complexity, buying supplies has become a sophisticated profession. 02/01/2018

  • Editor's Note (The View From Here)

    Seems Like a Smart Investment

    02/01/2018
  • Higher Education Trend

    Higher Education Trends: What's In Store For 2018

    Our annual look at trends influencing campus life and learning is back for 2018. From regenerative design to the latest developments in technology, these topics are on the forefront as experts discuss what the coming year might bring. 01/01/2018

  • Business (Managing Higher Ed)
    partnerships

    Public-Private Partnerships: A Path to Success

    Two universities in New Jersey are experiencing growth and financial stability by developing partnerships with businesses and their communities. 01/01/2018

  • The Sustainable Campus (Trends and Innovations)

    A Revolving Energy Fund

    The University of Montana is preparing for large-scale climate action. 01/01/2018

  • Business (Managing K-12 Education)
    schools doing more with less

    Doing More with Less

    Lessons from the Field. 11/01/2017

  • Business (Managing K-12 Education)
    Funding Capital Projects

    Better than Bake Sale Funding for Capital Projects

    It doesn't matter how good your facilities plan is... if you can’t fund it, you can’t build it. 10/01/2017

  • Business (Managing Higher Ed)
    Financing Campus Facilities

    Getting Creative With Facilities Financing

    Some campus administrators are looking beyond P3s and additional debt load to find ways to finance their capital projects. Check out these ideas. 10/01/2017

  • Editor's Note (The View From Here)

    Two New Annual Special Features

    07/01/2017
  • Green Purchasing
    green purchasing

    Are We Green Yet?

    The concept of green procurement has been around for nearly two decades. Are colleges and universities on board? 07/01/2017

  • The Sustainable Campus (Trends and Innovations)

    A Green Revolving Fund

    The University of Dayton sees sustainability as the greater good. 06/01/2017

  • Washington Update. To Be or Not to Be: That is the Budget Question

    The Trump administration’s “skinny budget” was submitted to Congress on March 16, 2017. The proposed budget received little support from both Republicans and Democrats, and was almost unanimously criticized by education associations, think tanks and related groups. 04/08/2017

  • Washington Update. To Be or Not to Be: That is the Budget Question

    The Trump administration’s “skinny budget” was submitted to Congress on March 16, 2017. The proposed budget received little support from both Republicans and Democrats, and was almost unanimously criticized by education associations, think tanks and related groups. 04/08/2017

Browse content by a specific cost or funding topic: