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In many educational systems, annual district and school planning are mandatory processes aimed at improving educational outcomes. These plans often involve developing strategies to enhance standardized results, and they are a critical component of educational governance.
However, a common challenge in this process is the misalignment between school plans and budgets. Too often, school budgets are finalized before school plans, leaving limited resources for implementing strategies outlined in the plan. This misalignment can hinder progress and lead to frustration among stakeholders. In this article, we will explore a proactive approach to ensure that school planning drives budget planning, ultimately improving the effectiveness of the K-12 educational system.
One of the fundamental issues in the school planning and budgeting process is timing. in many school jurisdictions, school budgets are crafted before the completion of school plans, a sequence that can lead to a scenario where essential strategies proposed in the school plan lack adequate funding. To address this challenge, it's crucial to flip the script: prioritize school planning before the budgeting process begins.
Ultimately, school operating plans and the budgets that enable them must have an overall alignment to the strategic goals and initiatives of the school district. District strategic plans should include measurable goals and strategies that are clear, but that are also broad enough to allow for schools and departments to set their goals based on the local context of the population that they serve. School Districts can assist in enabling this alignment by providing schools with standardized templates that require schools to populate their plan in the context of the boarder school district goals.
An effective school plan should not be created in isolation. To ensure that the plan accurately reflects the needs and aspirations of the school community, it must involve active engagement with various stakeholders. This engagement should encompass staff, students, parents, and community members. Their input is invaluable as it brings diverse perspectives to the table and aligns the plan with the goals of state/provincial jurisdictions, school district strategic goals, and the unique context of the local community. Ultimately, a co-created plan increases stakeholder engagement and staff buy-in and alignment to the plan.
Prioritizing strategies based on their impact on student learning is a crucial step in this process. It ensures that the limited resources are allocated to initiatives that will make the most significant difference. In many cases, the first round of the school's plan will reveal that the initiatives that they want to do to support their education plan exceeds the resources that are allocated to the school. Should the planned activities exceed the resources available, prioritization allows school administrators to remove items with lower priority, making the budget more efficient and responsive to the school's goals.
By aligning the school plan with the budget, schools can provide a higher level of assurance to their communities. This approach demonstrates accountability and shows stakeholders that their input has directly influenced the allocation of resources. It fosters trust and engagement, creating a sense of ownership among all involved.
The School Business Official plays a pivotal role in ensuring that school and district educational leaders have the best information possible to drive decision making. We ensure that school leaders are well supported and are provided with accessible, user-friendly tools like MyBudgetFile to assess the affordability of their plans.
We also can ensure this process is followed. When this process was introduced at one of my former school districts, Principals were not permitted into their budgets until the first draft of their co-created plan was submitted.
In the world of education, successful school planning is about more than just checking boxes and meeting requirements; it's about driving positive change, aligning staff efforts and ensuring that resources are used effectively to benefit students. Flipping the script by prioritizing school planning before budgeting, engaging stakeholders authentically, and ensuring transparency can help schools develop effective plans that lead to better educational outcomes. When school plans drive budgets, everyone involved can be confident that their efforts are aligned with a shared vision for educational excellence.
If you have any questions, feedback or would like to hear more. Please reach out!
About the Author
Ryan is a Director of Client Success with MyBudgetFile, a leader in K-12 budgeting across North America. With School Business experience spanning small to large school districts, he has served as President of the Alberta ASBO and led provincial initiatives on financial reporting, school fees and funding. Holding a Chartered Professional Accountant designation and an MBA in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Alberta, Ryan is passionate about the School Business Official’s role in making a difference for students and in their community as a whole.