Notable Quotable:
“So, while the research continues to focus on aggregated finance databases, the answer to the problem of why funds are poorly linked to student outcomes lies more in how funds are realized at the school level.” – Dr. Marguerite Roza, Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University
Student Based Budgeting in the News:
Weighted-Student Funding Key Driver Behind District-Charter Agreement
An agreement between North Chicago Community Unity School District 187 and the LEARN Charter School Network to open a new school centered on a funding arrangement that bases funding on student need.
IPS Seeks to Increase Funding Equity
Indianapolis Public Schools is considering adopting a weighted-student formula after a funding study found wide disparities among schools with similar needs.
Tennessee Non-Profit Calls for Greater Funding Equity
Chattanooga-based Metro Ideas is urging Hamilton County Schools to adopt student-based budgeting as its current one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the diverse needs of its students.
Arne Duncan: Time for Action on Funding Disparities
The intra-district funding gap between rich and poor students continues to persist and more needs to be done to involve the public in spending decisions noted the former education secretary at an Edunomics Lab event.
More Transparency in School Funding on its Way
An ESSA’s provision that requires districts to account for school-level spending will ultimately lead to more equitable funding writes Marguerite Roza.
Student Based Budgeting 101:
School Designer Tool from ERS
ERS offers a free tool that guides school leaders through a seven-step strategic design process for more effective planning. Their Strategic School Design framework is based on three primary principles for allocating resources: excellent teachers for all students, personalized learning and support, and cost-effectiveness through creative solutions.
Best Practices Spotlight:
Minneapolis Shows that with More Autonomy, Schools Win
As part of a pilot program Minneapolis Public Schools has granted four of its schools greater autonomy over curriculum and assessment, scheduling, staffing, and budget. The schools involved have already made the most of their autonomy writes Reason’s Tyler Koteskey.
Follow School Finance Groups and Experts on Twitter
- Center for American Progress @EdProgress
- Education Research Strategies @ERStrategies
- Center for Reinventing Public Education @CRPE_UW
- Afton Partners @aftonpartners
- Edunomics Lab @EdunomicsLab
- Public Impact @publicimpact
- Reason Foundation @LisSnell
- Reason Foundation @AaronGarthSmith