School Trusts - CLASS Research

In the realm of supporting effective and responsible oversight by the various beneficiaries of the granted trusts, CLASS has undertaken research projects each year to support the work of parents, educators and policy makers in their respective states. The research began with compiling very basic information by state such as the current acreage of trust land holdings, balances in the associated permanent funds and annual distributions to schools from the trusts. Because the nature of the trusts is so similar, yet different from state to state, CLASS has researched the granting documents and extrapolated relevant information for beneficiaries. Conference presentations have informed participants how and why each grant is similar and different. CLASS is currently researching the relevant portions of the state constitutions that cemented the trust arrangement between the states and federal government. In addition, CLASS, under a contract with the Sonoran Institute, is compiling information about the revenue streams from the land to the schools, including the flow of funding, the identified missions of the trust managers, how and if managers increase value along the way and the impact the revenue has on schools when it arrives.

Many school trusts have not yet received all the land promised to them at statehood. To support the work of land managers and beneficiaries, in 2003-2004, CLASS researched the acreage by state still promised to the school children as well as the processes and hurdles that must be completed to make the trusts whole.

Research is prioritized by those participating as delegates at each CLASS Conference.

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