Despite the popularity of performance funding among policymakers and policy advocates, only half of all states have ever created a performance funding system for higher education. This project examined the factors that led to the establishment of performance funding for higher education in six states (Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, and Washington), as contrasted with two states that never established it (California and Nevada). It also analyzed the factors leading to the demise of performance funding programs in four states (Illinois, Missouri, Washington, and Florida). Finally, it analyzed how the long-lasting performance funding systems in Tennessee and Florida have changed over time.
This project was funded by Lumina Foundation for Education.