School-Based Budgeting: New York City Perspective

1. School-Based Budgeting: New York City Perspective BESE Task Force | November 3, 2010 Hannah Dietsch, Partner hdietsch@tntp.org

2. Agenda Introduction Fair Student Funding School-Based Budgeting Questions

3. School-Based Budgeting: New York City • New York City • - 1.1MM students • 1,700 schools • 60 School Support Networks • $18B operating budget • Louisiana • - 650,000 students • 1,500 schools • - 64 Districts

4. Agenda Introduction Fair Student Funding School-Based Budgeting Questions

5. Fair Student Funding: Goals • Achieve equity without sacrificing stability • Encourage student achievement-driven resource allocation by giving principals: • More discretion over dollars and, therefore, staffing decisions • Greater responsibility teacher and staff salaries • Incentives to enroll high-need students • Achieve and maintain transparency

6. Fair Student Funding: Formula Components • Grade weights: based on student grade levels • Needs weights: based on student needs • Enhanced weights: for students in specialty/”portfolio” high schools • Foundation: a fixed, $225,000 allocation for all schools

7. Fair Student Funding: FY11 FormulaWeights

8. Fair Student Funding is one of several components in each school’s budget. • Fair Student Funding – 60% • Foundation • Grade Weights • Student Need Weights • Portfolio Weights • Hold Harmless & Incremental Funds • Teacher Legacy Supplement • Categorical Funds – 20% • Restricted and comprised of several different streams, including Federal and State funds (Title I, Title III, etc.) • Children First Funds – 10% • Funds allocated on a per-school ($85K) and per-student basis ($117) to pay for School Support Network, plus additional flexible dollars to be spent at the school’s discretion. • Programmatic Allocations – 10% • Tax-levy programs that remain discretely funded, such as Parent Coordinators.

9. Agenda Introduction Fair Student Funding School-Based Budgeting Questions

10. Central retains responsibility for certain operational and non-instructional costs. • School Budget • Staff (Principal, Assistant Principal(s), teachers, secretary, teachers, paraprofessionals, etc.) • School Support Network • Instructional materials • Professional development services • Technology – service contract, supplementary hardware and software • Supplies • … • Central Budget • Transportation • Food service • Facilities and maintenance (including janitorial staff) • Special education services (e.g., occupational and physical therapy, assistive technology) • Technology – hardware and basic software • - …

11. School-Based Budgeting: Calendar View Apr May Jun Oct Nov Principals staff their school Register audit Funds allocated; principals finalize school structure and budget Principals create the preliminary school organization and class structure Principals make mid-year budget adjustments (if necessary) School Support Networks review and sign off on budgets School Support Networks review and sign off on mid-year adjustments Central sends register projections to each school

12. Schools receive allocations by category through School Allocation Memoranda.

13. Allocating and budgeting funds by category ensures that schools are using funds appropriately. Each School Allocation Memo (SAM) includes a description of permitted expenses and links to a spreadsheet with each school’s allocation. When the SAM is released, the funds are loaded into each school’s budget. Each Title has associated and restricted cost factors (i.e., expense categories).

14. Agenda Overview Fair Student Funding School-Based Budgeting Questions