Are You Ready for Equity Budgeting?
Deciding to become an equitable district is an encompassing endeavor. The decision to commit to meeting student needs often requires a reexamination, if not an overhaul, of everything from a district’s mission and vision to its operating functions. The budgeting process is one of the most effective functions at a district’s disposal to meet students’ needs. Implementing an equitable budget is an opportunity to provide students with greater needs with the resources necessary to achieve at the same level as students without those needs. However, for districts that have traditionally based their budgeting practices on principles of equality rather than equity, making this change could be difficult. Doing so requires a system-readiness assessment that will guide how best to implement an equitable budget in your district.
What is Equity-Based Budgeting?
Though it goes by many names—student-based budgeting (SBB), weighted student funding (WSF), fair student funding (FSF)—equity-based budgeting is the mechanism of allocating funds to schools based on student needs. Equity-based budgeting uses a funding formula to allocate dollars, instead of staff and materials as most districts do, based on the number of students who have objective and measurable characteristics representing the district’s equity vision. Districts use equity-based budgeting to advance their equity vision because it is a mechanism to allocate more dollars to higher-need student groups such as economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and English language learners. This also gives principals increased flexibility to determine which resources their schools and students need to succeed.
Determining System Readiness
Part one of this blog series covered the process of creating a shared equity vision, which then needs to be incorporated into the district budget. Starting with an equity vision, here are some key areas to consider when determining if your district is ready to implement an equitable budget:
“Equity Vision”
Implementing equity-based budgeting has to be part of a comprehensive district equity vision. It cannot be a standalone effort at improving equity. Siloed equity efforts—especially those, like equity-based budgeting, that require tradeoffs—are rarely sustainable because the pressure from other unchanged areas to return to the status quo will be too great. A comprehensive equity vision encompasses all district functions. It is developed and shared by the entire school community—administrators, educators, staff, family and caregivers, students (high school at a minimum), and the district or school’s governing board. Taking the time to develop this equity vision and ensure all stakeholders’ buy-in is a crucial first step to taking equitable action.
“Measurable Characteristics”
Successfully executing equity-based budgeting depends on accurate data. Accurate enrollment projections and student, staff, and financial data determine how much money each school receives and help school leaders know what resources they have available to achieve their school plans. Effective data systems and processes that provide a complete view of a district’s students and resources need to be in place to inform a sound equity-based budgeting policy. These systems and processes will also be helpful for the district to measure equity improvements and make continual adjustments as needed.
“Instead Of”
The phrase “instead of” in the definition of equity-based budgeting implies change, and change is rarely easy. How district leaders manage this change is the linchpin to determining the success of equity-based budgeting. Leaders have to be ready to address how equity-based budgeting will change not just how much money each school gets but also the annual budget and school planning processes, and some district and school staff roles. With all this change, it’s important for districts to consider how transparently they communicate with and engage stakeholders about their budget.
During the upheaval of the last two years, many districts have made well-intentioned statements about their commitment to equity. Implementing an equity-based budget is a notable way for district leaders to “put their money where their mouths are.” However, districts shouldn’t take this action without considering the readiness of their systems to absorb all the changes that a successful equity-based budgeting process requires. Even if everyone in a district community agrees that committing to meet student needs is the right thing to do, actually doing it can be difficult when it involves change. Therefore, before your system implements equity-based budgeting, take the time to assess how ready it is for change.
Use this tool to assess your district’s readiness to implement equity budgeting and contact us to learn more