Private Resources in Public Schools: Evidence from a Pilot Study

In recent years, schools and districts have increasingly become reliant on state categorical funds, which have restricted local financial control and have caused many schools and districts to look for alternative sources of revenue. One of these alternative sources is private contributions. While public schools and districts have always attracted private support, anecdotal reports and a limited body of documented research suggest they are now pursuing private support with increased sophistication and aggressiveness. Current reports and research provide a limited accounting of private support of public education and no framework for thinking about such support. This pilot study is designed to provide schools and districts with information on the type of public-private partnerships that have been developed and the mechanisms used to attract private support.