Press Release
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, MARCH 18, 2025 – Aligned, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of business leaders who educate and influence policymakers to drive educational transformation efforts, announces the unique opportunity for school and business leaders to earn a certificate in education finance here in Kansas City. In collaboration with Georgetown University, Aligned will host a cohort of the Edunomics Lab’s Certificate in Education Finance (CEF) course at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center in Kansas City, Missouri, June 10-11, 2025.
This one-of-a-kind certificate course from Georgetown University equips participants with practical skills in strategic fiscal management, finance policy analysis, and financial leadership to deploy resources in ways most beneficial for students. Participants may include, but are not limited to, school principals and leaders, central office leadership, education policymakers, analysts, graduate students, grant makers, and nonprofit leaders.
“There is no better time to understand education finance than now, with the ongoing political discussions at the federal level affecting how resources are allocated to local schools,” said Torree Pederson, president and CEO of Aligned. “Education finance is at the center of major policy decisions, and this program equips professionals with the knowledge to navigate funding complexities and make smart decisions.”
Taught by Georgetown University’s Dr. Marguerite Roza, the course covers cost drivers in education, allocation and accountability structures, instruction delivery model implications, state policy effects, and more. The certificate program emphasizes practical skills and application while learning through a combination of interactive classroom instruction and hands-on practice.
Space is limited and participants are encouraged to register early to ensure their participation for the in-person event in Kansas City. There are no prerequisites or advance preparation required.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. To learn more about Aligned and the course, visit www.wearealigned.org.
About Aligned
Founded in 2011 with the support of key civic leaders, Aligned has assembled a coalition of businesses and community leaders who are committed to focusing strategically on ways that businesses and policymakers can work better together to foster children’s achievement and economic development. Aligned is the only nonprofit, nonpartisan business group working across Kansas and Missouri on educational issues impacting the full development of our children, supporting child care providers, and investing in the workforce of tomorrow.
About Edunomics Lab
Edunomics Lab is a Georgetown University research center dedicated to exploring and modeling complex education finance decisions to inform policy and practice. Established in 2012 at the McCourt School of Public Policy, the center is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of education finance.