New analyses by researchers across the ideological spectrum have found that increasing overall funding for schools can improve student achievement, particularly for low-income students. However, the growing consensus is that strategic state policies are needed to substantially increase the size of the impact of additional funding. These policies include student-centered funding that directs new resources to students who have the greatest needs, accountability for student outcomes, incentivizing proven strategies, competition and choice, and enabling schools to learn from one another. An accompanying tool allows policymakers to assess where their respective states are in adopting policies that maximize the impact of school funding.