Data Tools
ISFIS offers a number of financial tools, such as the ISFIS Interactive Mapping Tool, which provide a comprehensive view for school districts and public policy makers to understand school finance and other data-driven issues facing Iowa school districts. Thousands of variables from taxes to expenditures, student demographics to achievement can be analyzed and compared within this tool. This service in included as part of the ISFIS Finance Subscription.
Legislative Bill Tracking and Advocacy Services
ISFIS Partner Margaret Buckton represents the Urban Education Network of Iowa (UEN) as their Legislative Analyst, and the Rural School Advocates of Iowa (RSAI) as their Professional Advocate. Both organizations publish a Legislative Digest summarizing the actions impacting schools upon conclusion of the year's legislative session. View the most recent UEN Legislative Digest and RSAI Legislative Digests to provide a springboard for conversations with your school leaders and local legislators.
ISFIS Partners have well over 70 years combined public policy expertise that can help guide you through the legislative process. Other services, such as direct lobbying, bill tracking, and geocoding/mapping are available on a time and charges basis. Learn more about Advocacy Services.
Public Policy Research
ISFIS staff puts its decades of collective public policy research experience to work, with expertise in education funding, enrollment and other demographic forecasting, state and local tax policy, and economic development case impact studies. We are also available to provide a critical review of other public policy research reports for accuracy and legitimacy. Recent examples include understanding the impact of TIF on school budgets, reviewing history of class size funds, understanding value-added assessment models and rewriting the Iowa School Finance Formula. Learn more about public policy research.