Lawmakers hear update on $61.8M Public Education Reform Fund and evaluation plans

Legislative staff and Public Education Department (PED) officials told the Legislative Education Study Committee on Jan. 27 that the Public Education Reform Fund (PERF) has been restructured as a targeted, multi‑year investment fund and that evaluation requirements are built into the appropriations.

The committee heard that the PERF changes, enacted through Senate Bill 201 and described by staff as requiring impact evaluations when possible, cover five initiatives funded at roughly $61.8 million over fiscal years 2026–2028. Simon Miller of the Department of Finance and Administration said the allocations are: $18.6 million for attendance supports, $15.6 million for secondary literacy, $13.5 million for math achievement, $7.8 million for innovative staffing models and $6.3 million for supports for students experiencing homelessness. Miller noted the reform fund has no dedicated revenue stream and relies on general‑fund appropriations.

Jessica, a committee staff member, told lawmakers the law emphasizes causal evaluation and requires PED to explain when causal designs are not feasible. "Some causal research requires that classic RCT, and that's a very difficult thing to do in applied research with real kids and humans in schools," she said, explaining why many plans use quasi‑experimental designs or matched comparisons.

PED’s Dr. Martin Jones, senior data analyst, described the implementation plan and the data approach. He said initial evaluation plans were submitted on schedule, revised plans followed by Sept. 1, and the department will provide short progress updates on Nov. 1 and final evaluation reports by Sept. 1, 2027. "So far, everything is on track," Jones said. He added that about half the evaluation data come from PED’s existing administrative systems, roughly 40% will be collected by external contractors for fidelity monitoring, and about 10% will be survey data the department will administer.

Committee members asked how funds will be distributed and how the grants will be run. Jessica confirmed the PERF awards are standalone grant programs run by PED and not distributed through the School Equalization Guarantee (SEG). In response to distribution questions, Jones said much of the money is already flowing: "Within the first two months of implementation 36% of our first year monies have already been moved out the door and spent." He and staff told lawmakers some program awards have been released, others are ramping up as school years begin and additional distributions will follow.

The committee reviewed each initiative in turn and the evaluation approaches planned: - Attendance improvement ($18.6M): PED will provide PD grants to LEAs and schools for locally selected attendance interventions; lack of a prescriptive intervention list and absence of randomized assignment may limit causal inference. - Secondary literacy ($15.6M): PED will expand models to grades 6–12 using two PD programs, on‑site coaches in 16 schools, and the Amira tutoring tool in 75 schools; evaluators plan matched comparison designs. - Math achievement ($13.5M): A three‑pronged approach—algebra readiness for grades 6–9, a Numeros micro‑credential pilot for elementary teachers, and high‑quality instructional materials (HQIM) implementation study—will use propensity‑score matching and mixed‑effects models where feasible. - Innovative staffing ($7.8M): Two staffing models (including Opportunity Culture) will be piloted; outcomes measured will include teacher retention, job satisfaction and student engagement, but nonrandom assignment and potential spillovers are limitations. - Supports for students experiencing homelessness ($6.3M): The pilot will provide $500 monthly payments to about 330 selected students in grades 10–12, paired with weekly counseling, academic supports and financial literacy. Jessica said participants must maintain 92% attendance, attend weekly counseling and complete 90% of coursework to keep payments.

Staff acknowledged implementation challenges, including timeline issues that may delay program starts mid‑school year; the fact that final evaluations are due before some implementation is complete; monitoring gaps because SB 201 does not require routine annual reporting; and that the advisory work group cannot compel PED to accept all recommended evaluation changes. Lawmakers asked for lists or maps of selected LEAs and continued, timely updates to support funding decisions in future sessions.

What happens next: PED will submit the November progress updates to staff, continue fidelity monitoring with external contractors, and deliver final evaluation reports on Sept. 1, 2027. Lawmakers and staff said they will use those reports and interim findings to inform funding decisions for fiscal years beyond 2028.