In 2015, one big question set the School and State Finance Project (SSFP) in motion: How are Connecticut’s public schools funded, and why does the system feel so inequitable? What began as an effort to answer that question has grown into a mission to make school funding understandable, transparent, and fair for every community across the state.
Ten years later, SSFP has grown into a small but mighty organization that has not only changed how Connecticut funds its schools, but also how communities, families, and policymakers understand and engage with each other.
“Our goal has always been the same,” says Michael Morton, Deputy Executive Director, Communications & Operations. “Making sure every Connecticut public school student has the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, and that they’re funded based on their learning needs.”
Closing the Knowledge Gap
When SSFP was founded, Connecticut’s public schools were funded through what Morton describes as “a very elaborate, disjointed, and inequitable system.” Funding often depended less on actual student needs and more on historical funding or a district’s political clout.
“There wasn’t much information, data, or public knowledge about how this was happening,” Morton explains. “The organization was started to help address that gap, to inform policymakers, district officials, community members — really the general public — about how schools are funded and the inequities that developed as a result.”
What began as a three-year initiative has grown into a long-term driver of systemic change.
“The need didn’t go away, even as we made progress,” Morton notes. “Hopefully one day the job will be done, but for now the need for information, for data, and for explaining these critical issues in an approachable, accessible way is still very prevalent.”
Achievements That Matter
Over its first decade, SSFP has made measurable progress toward equitable school funding.
- $770 million in additional funding for Connecticut public school students, thanks to policy proposals SSFP helped design and pass.
- The creation and implementation of the state’s first equitable education funding formula, which will be fully funded for the first time in the 2025–26 school year.
- Engagement with more than 15,000 community members across Connecticut, elevating local voices in state-level education policy.
“These are generational impacts,” Morton emphasizes. “Hopefully not only helping students succeed academically and in life but also eliminating disparities that have existed for decades.”
Community Voices at the Center
From the start, SSFP realized policy expertise alone wasn’t enough.
“We had policy, data, and communications expertise, but no real community engagement experience,” Morton recalls. “And we didn’t want to do community work the way we’d seen it done before — inauthentic and transactional. We wanted to do community work that was with people, not to people.”
That philosophy has guided hundreds of presentations, workshops, and meetings with parents, educators, and advocates across the state. The results have been transformative.
Morton shares the story of individuals who started as hesitant participants at SSFP workshops. “We’ve seen people go from being nervous about sharing their thoughts to running for the State House of Representatives — and winning. We’ve had students who discovered our work in high school and then went on to study education policy in college. And we’ve seen families who, after generations of inequitable funding, are finally experiencing what it means for their schools to have resources.”
For SSFP, these stories are as powerful as legislative victories. “Policy progress is notoriously slow,” Morton says. “But when we see parents speaking up for their students, or teachers finally getting the resources they’ve been asking for, that’s the real impact.”
Equity at the Core
Equity is not just a value SSFP advocates for — it’s the foundation of how they operate.
“Everything revolves around equity,” Morton explains. “Whenever we’re working on a policy, we do an equity analysis. When we go into communities, it’s through an equity lens. All our work stems from the question: how do we create an environment where every student, no matter where they live or what school they attend, gets the very best education possible?”
This commitment extends inward as well. “Equity guides how we hire, how we evaluate funding sources, and how we operate as an organization,” Morton adds. “If we want students to thrive in an equitable system, we have to model that ourselves.”
Making School Finance Accessible
One of SSFP’s most important contributions has been demystifying education funding — making it understandable and actionable for everyday people.
“When parents used to ask how schools were funded, policymakers often said, ‘Well, it’s complicated, you wouldn’t understand,’” Morton recalls. “Our mission has been to make sure that’s not an option anymore. It’s not too complicated. These are your tax dollars, your schools, your kids. You deserve to know how they’re being funded.”
Workshops and tools like EdExplorer and the Community Advocate Hub are designed with that goal in mind.
- EdExplorer gives parents, advocates, and policymakers fast access to school and district funding data in a simple, mobile-friendly format.
- The Community Advocate Hub provides a one-stop shop for contacting legislators, submitting testimony, and taking action on education funding issues.
“We know people are busy — working multiple jobs, caring for kids, balancing countless responsibilities,” Morton says. “We want to make it quick and easy to get informed and make your voice heard. That’s how real change happens.”
Partnership with TSNE
As a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE, SSFP has been able to focus squarely on its mission without being distracted by administrative burdens.
“It’s allowed us to stay focused solely on our mission,” Morton says. “We don’t have to worry about back-office functions. If we need legal, HR, or contract support, we have access to it. That efficiency lets us spend more time on what has the greatest impact: achieving equitable funding for students.”
Looking Ahead
As SSFP marks 10 years, the work is far from over.
“There’s always more to do,” Morton says. “We now have a fully funded formula, but there are improvements to be made — making sure it better reflects student needs, town wealth, and the actual cost of education.”
He also points to both opportunities and challenges ahead: nurturing young staff into leadership roles, bringing in fresh perspectives, and navigating an unpredictable federal landscape that will inevitably affect education policy and funding at the state level.
Despite those hurdles, Morton remains optimistic. “If anything, the need for information and knowledge has only increased. This has probably been our busiest year yet, because people are asking questions and want to be informed. That’s a great opportunity for us to grow, to reach more communities, and to continue our mission.”
A Decade of Change, A Future of Possibility
From a three-person team to a statewide leader in education equity, SSFP’s journey over the last decade is proof of what’s possible when information, policy, and community voice come together.
“Ultimately, it’s about ensuring every student in Connecticut has the opportunities they need to succeed,” Morton says. “That’s what keeps us going, and that’s the vision we’ll keep working toward.”
Learn more about SSFP’s work, explore their tools, and get involved at schoolstatefinance.org.
Learn more about TSNE’s Fiscal Sponsorship services at tsne.org/fiscal-sponsorship.