Trust lands are parcels of land in your state that were granted by Congress to schools at the time of statehood. School trust lands were allocated specifically to generate revenue to support public schools, hospitals, teaching colleges, and universities.

Currently, nineteen states still retain over 45 million acres of school trust lands. To understand the enormity of 45 million acres, it is a million acres more than either North Dakota or Missouri.

Trust lands also contribute jobs as well as provide additional revenue to local and state economies.

What Are School Trust Lands?

Oil extracted from trust lands serves as a vital revenue stream fueling school funds.

How do School Trust Lands Support Education

Trust lands are intended to be used productively to optimize revenue for public schools. In many states, the revenue generated is deposited into the permanent school fund and the earnings then distributed to schools.

Per the General Land Ordinance of 1785 and subsequent case law, states have the responsibility as legal trustees to optimize revenue from the lands as well as ensure permanent funds are properly managed as an endowment for current and all future generations of school children in perpetuity.

The combined US State Permanent Funds are currently worth: $72 Billion