“Families feel funding choices in class sizes, course offerings and student supports,” said Jason Burns, research specialist at EPIC and lead author of the report. Recent years have seen some of this gap restored, though funding remains below the peak of the early 2000s. Legacy costs in the retirement system now consume more resources, leaving fewer dollars to support teaching and learning,” Burns said. With student achievement in the spotlight, what matters is both the level of funding and how it is used. Despite recent gains, over the long-term, real funding has generally trended downward, especially the dollars reaching classrooms.