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Data Visualization


  • The Relationship Between Public Pension Investments and Declining Bond Yields
    The Relationship Between Public Pension Investments and Declining Bond Yields

    As interest rates from fixed-income investments like corporate and government bonds decline, public pension plans have shifted assets away from these investment types.

    By Jordan Campbell
    February 25, 2021

  • Infographic: Texas Charter Funding Gap
    Infographic: Texas Charter Funding Gap

    Public charter schools in Texas receive an average of 7 percent less education funding than the state's public school districts.

    By Aaron Garth Smith
    February 2, 2021

  • Examining Student Funding in Texas Charter Schools and Traditional Public Schools
    Examining Student Funding in Texas Charter Schools and Traditional Public Schools

    Texas students who choose to attend a charter school receive $813 fewer dollars, on average, compared to peers in traditional public schools.

    By Jordan Campbell, Aaron Garth Smith and Corey A. DeAngelis
    January 29, 2021

  • Public Pension Plans’ Funded Ratios Have Been Declining for Years
    Public Pension Plans’ Funded Ratios Have Been Declining for Years

    New data visualization reveals the decline of public pension funding across the country.

    By Jordan Campbell
    January 29, 2021

  • Arizona School Finance Dashboard
    Arizona School Finance Dashboard

    This interactive data portal displays how Arizona's K-12 school district student demographics compare to school district revenues.

    By Jordan Campbell and Christian Barnard
    January 14, 2021

  • Infographic: How Student-Centered Funding Works and How to Get There
    Infographic: How Student-Centered Funding Works and How to Get There

    How policymakers can align education funding with students' needs.

    By Aaron Garth Smith and Christian Barnard
    October 29, 2020

  • Examining How Much Money That Pension Debt Takes Away From Michigan’s Classrooms Each Year
    Examining How Much Money That Pension Debt Takes Away From Michigan’s Classrooms Each Year

    In 2018, Detroit Public Schools spent $2,202 per student on MPSERS debt, which equals nearly 27 percent of the district's per pupil foundation grant from the state.

    By Truong Bui, Leonard Gilroy and Marc Joffe
    October 27, 2020

  • The Funded Status of State-Managed Public Pension Plans
    The Funded Status of State-Managed Public Pension Plans

    State-level public pension plans' funded status dropped from 97.7 percent in 2001 to 73.6 percent in 2019.

    By Anil Niraula
    October 22, 2020

  • Historically Low 10-Year Treasury Yields Show Ongoing Challenges for Public Pensions
    Historically Low 10-Year Treasury Yields Show Ongoing Challenges for Public Pensions

    The all-time low 10-year Treasury rate yield is the latest reminder of the “new normal” in institutional investing.

    By Jordan Campbell
    September 15, 2020

  • Infographic — Idaho School Finance: How It Works and How to Improve the System
    Infographic — Idaho School Finance: How It Works and How to Improve the System

    Idaho should streamline its education funding system into a weighted-student formula that allocates dollars based on local students' needs.

    By Aaron Garth Smith, Christian Barnard and Satya Marar
    September 2, 2020

  • Public Pension Investment Performance Has Historically Fallen Short of Return Assumptions
    Public Pension Investment Performance Has Historically Fallen Short of Return Assumptions

    Declining interest rates and market volatility over the last three decades have made it harder for public pension plan investment performance to match assumed rates of return - and plans have been slow to lower their assumptions.

    By Truong Bui
    August 28, 2020

  • What Happens to Taxpayer-Funded Pensions When Public Officials Are Convicted of Crimes?
    What Happens to Taxpayer-Funded Pensions When Public Officials Are Convicted of Crimes?

    The police officer charged with killing George Floyd is eligible for his full taxpayer funded pension. In fact, a majority of states provide retirement benefits to officers and public servants convicted of serious crimes.

    By Ryan Frost
    July 30, 2020

  • The State Gas Tax Money That Is Diverted Away From Roads and Highways
    The State Gas Tax Money That Is Diverted Away From Roads and Highways

    Half of the states divert state fuel taxes to pay for expenses unrelated to roads, including money shifted to law enforcement, education, tourism, environmental programs and more.

    By Baruch Feigenbaum and Joe Hillman
    July 22, 2020

  • The Surprisingly Risk-Free Origin of Public Pension Investment Return Assumptions
    The Surprisingly Risk-Free Origin of Public Pension Investment Return Assumptions

    A look back at the history of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System shows that pension systems originally took a very safe approach to investments - which may offer some lessons for today.

    By Marc Joffe
    July 8, 2020

  • How Teacher Pension Plans Are Impacted by the Economic and Market Volatility
    How Teacher Pension Plans Are Impacted by the Economic and Market Volatility

    Choose a public pension plan and an investment return rate to see how that plan's unfunded liabilities and funded ratios change.

    By Pension Integrity Project
    June 4, 2020

  • State Pension Challenges – Unfunded Liabilities Before and After COVID-19-Related Economic Downturn
    State Pension Challenges – Unfunded Liabilities Before and After COVID-19-Related Economic Downturn

    This new interactive tool shows how one year of bad returns can affect the funding status of public pension plans and previews the challenges ahead for state-run pensions.

    By Pension Integrity Project
    May 28, 2020

  • Previewing the COVID-19 Impact on State Pension Plans
    Previewing the COVID-19 Impact on State Pension Plans

    Use this tool to choose your state's public pension plans and possible investment return rates to see how unfunded liabilities and funded ratios are impacted.

    By Pension Integrity Project
    April 22, 2020

  • Map: Comparing State Pension Plans’ Assumed Rates of Return
    Map: Comparing State Pension Plans’ Assumed Rates of Return

    This visualization shows how states have been gradually adjusting their assumed rates of return down to more realistic levels.

    By Truong Bui and Zachary Christensen
    March 26, 2020

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