A measurement of the number of state-funded teacher units that a school will receive through the Foundation Program. Funding is distributed by setting the number, or target number, of teachers or instructional support staff that state funds will support based on a ratio. Teacher or instructional unit funding is often calculated based on the number of students enrolled. Each grade band has a different ratio for teacher units earned per number of students. For example, for FY 2024, the state provided funding to districts for one teacher unit for every 14.25 students in grades K-3, a teacher for every 20.06 students in grades 4-6, a teacher for every 19.70 students in grades 7-8, and a teacher for every 17.95 students in grades 9-12. (Source: Education Commission of the States. (2021). Glossary of K-12 Education Funding.)
