The Outstanding Service Award recognizes contributions made to public policy development, research, public understanding, local school finance development and service to the AEFP. The award is presented to each year’s winner at the AEFP Annual Conference. Recipients of the AEFA/AEFP Outstanding Service Award:
| Year | Recipient | Conference Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lawrence O. Picus | Virtual |
| 2020 | Amy Ellen Schwartz | Virtual |
| 2019 | Angie Hull | Kansas City, Missouri |
| 2018 | Robert Goertz | Portland, Oregon |
| 2017 | Susanna Loeb | Washington, DC |
| 2016 | Carolyn Herrington | Denver, Colorado |
| 2015 | Helen Ladd | Washington, D.C. |
| 2014 | Dan Goldhaber | San Antonio, Texas |
| 2013 | James Wyckoff | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2012 | Thomas Downes | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 2011 | Jewell Gould | Seattle, Washington |
| 2010 | David Figlio | Richmond, Virginia |
| 2009 | James Guthrie | Nashville, Tennessee |
| 2008 | Jay Chambers | Denver, Colorado |
| 2007 | Richard Rothstein | Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2006 | Edwin E. Steinbrecher | Denver, Colorado |
| 2005 | Leanna Stiefel | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2004 | Henry M. Levin | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 2003 | David Monk | Orlando, Florida |
| 2002 | Van D. Mueller | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 2001 | Margaret E. Goertz | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 2000 | Eugene P. McLoone | Austin, Texas |
| 1999 | Robert Berne | Seattle, Washington |
| 1998 | Allan R. Odden | Mobile, Alabama |
| 1997 | William J. Fowler, Jr. | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 1996 | Will S. Myers | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 1995 | Bettye MacPhail-Wilcox | Savannah, Georgia |
| 1994 | Kern Alexander | Nashville, Tennessee |
| 1993 | Richard A. Rossmiller | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 1992 | G. Alan Hickrod | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 1991 | Arthur E. Wise | Williamsburg, Virginia |
| 1990 | K. Forbis Jordan | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 1989 | George R. Babigian | San Antonio, Texas |
| 1988 | H. Thomas James | Tampa, Florida |
| 1987 | Charles S. Benson | Washington, D.C. |
| 1986 | William P. McClure | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1987 | Roe L. Johns | Phoenix, Arizona |