2023-2024 Financial Data Collection
For the ESSA Financial Transparency Report and School Level Finance Survey
Guidance for New York State Charter Schools
DEADLINE:FEBRUARY 14, 2025
In December 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law as the successor to the No Child Left Behind Act, as amended by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Among a multitude of changes to the education landscape resulting from this federal legislation was the creation of a new financial transparency reporting requirement, whereby all local education agencies (LEAs) would annually provide information about “[t]he per-pupil expenditures of Federal, State, and local funds, including actual personnel expenditures and actual nonpersonnel expenditures of Federal, State, and local funds, disaggregated by source of funds, for each local education agency and each school in the State for the preceding fiscal year.” (Public Law 114-95, 129 STAT. 1802)
Building-level financial transparency under ESSA helps those interested in education learn more about the equity and effectiveness of our federal, state, and local educational resources. It is critical that LEAs, including charter schools, maximize every dollar to provide the best opportunities and improve outcomes for our students. Fiscal transparency reports outline how much each school is spending per student and the source of the funds. These fiscal transparency reports inform conversations within communities about whether equitable resources are being provided at the school level. At the state level, ESSA Financial Transparency data will help inform future Board of Regents policymaking decisions.
To strengthen the data that has been collected via the ESSA requirements, the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education, along with the Office for Civil Rights, have implemented a new requirement, the School Level Finance Survey (SLFS). The SLFS will allow for more detail and continuity in reporting data at the school level so that expenditures can be compared on a local, state, and national level.
Beginning in fall 2024, data collection of SY 2023-2024 expenditures for the ESSA Financial Transparency requirement (ESSA) will combine with data collection for the SLFS. The data collected on the combined ESSA/SLFS report will be used to satisfy both federally-mandated financial reporting requirements.
Additional information regarding ESSA Financial Transparency
Basic Instructions
- Review the guidance for charter schools.
- CEOs of charter schools log in to the and select IRS Data Exchange.
- Assign Save/Submit permissions to the individual(s) who will complete the report.
Technical Support
