Document Number: 6628The Issues and Implications of the “65 Percent Solution” - Policymakers, taxpayers and district leaders are seeking ways to maximize the impact of every dollar spent on public education and thus improve the educational "return on resources." To that end, a number of states are considering legislation that would require school districts to spend at least 65% of their budgets on classroom instruction, which is known as the "65% Solution." This paper addresses the following questions raised by the strategy and provides policymakers with a framework for considering its implications: (1) What do the data reveal about the relationship between spending allocations and student achievement? (2) What are the definitional issues to consider when determining the percentage a district spends on instruction? (3) What questions should policymakers consider in connection with the 65% solution? (School Matters, 2005)...