Search
A reckoning on school staffing. WANDA has your district’s numbers.
You know the story: many districts added staff with temporary federal relief funds just as enrollments began to fall. But who are all the new hires? And what roles grew the most? WANDA (our handy data tool) shows what staffing patterns look like in states and districts. District leaders can use WANDA to examine their staffing and inform efforts to...
WANDA: K-12 Workforce Data Tool
WANDA: K-12 Workforce Data Tool What’s happened to staffing? WANDA has answers. Staffing has increased on average in districts since 2018-19. Who are all the new hires? And what roles grew the most? WANDA can help districts examine their staffing and inform efforts to reshape their workforce to meet the needs of today’s students. Note: WA data […]
Can financially strapped districts afford tutoring? YES
How budget-strapped districts can afford tutoring by redeploying existing staff from non-teaching specialist, administrator and support staff roles.
Fraud, waste, and abuse: Here’s what we see in K-12
Learn how fraud, abuse, and waste drain K-12 education budgets. From gift card theft to ineffective programs, discover why districts need zero-tolerance policies and data-driven budgeting to protect taxpayer funds and restore public trust in schools.
Some School Districts Won the MacKenzie Scott Jackpot. What Happened Next?
Three years after districts unexpectedly received large, unrestricted MacKenzie Scott donations totaling millions, their outcomes have varied widely. Roza examines what happened next, showing how inertia in education systems complicates spending decisions, budgeting, and the long-term sustainability of district finances.
30-Min Webinar: Must budget cuts erode district quality?
In this 30 minute webinar, Marguerite shares a range of options for how districts can spend smarter toward building long-term financial health and growing outcomes for students. And which districts are doing this well.
Schools need Title I. Kids need it to work better.
Each year the federal Title 1 program delivers $18B to districts, and in return districts are supposed to close achievement gaps between students from low-income households and their peers. With missed results and proposed cuts now might be a good time to recommit to the deal and make measurable progress for low-income students.
Hard Choices, Smarter Schools: Surviving the Big Shrink
Marguerite joined ASBO’s School Business Insider podcast to discuss “The Big Shrink.” She outlined a roadmap for how districts can respond to declining enrollment and shrinking revenues — while still protecting what matters for students — by rethinking staffing models, evaluating programs for impact, and leading strategically during a tough budget season.
Breaking News: Your district’s enrollment figures
Districts are experiencing enrollment declines that signal long-term financial challenges — what we call The Big Shrink. Drops in particular grade levels or reveal different underlying causes, from falling birthrates to family out-migration. Leaders who analyze their data early can plan thoughtfully — rethinking staffing, evaluating programs, and even closing schools — to build smaller, stronger, and more sustainable systems...
Here Comes “The Big Shrink”
Districts across the country are heading into an era of shrinking enrollment resulting in lower revenues. With labor costs consuming a large share of most budgets, leaders won’t be able to avoid tough choices. Done right, shrinking can be a chance to build smaller, stronger, and more effective school systems for the students who remain.
North Dakota District Scatterplots
ND: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
New Jersey District Scatterplots
NJ: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
Tennessee District Scatterplots
TN: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
South Dakota District Scatterplots
SD: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2025 cohort: Sept. 17-18 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
Rhode Island District Scatterplots
RI: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
Pennsylvania District Scatterplots
PA: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
Oklahoma District Scatterplots
OK: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2025 cohort: Sept. 17-18 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
Ohio District Scatterplots
OH: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
New York District Scatterplots
NY: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2025 cohort: Sept. 17-18 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
Nebraska District Scatterplots
NE: Spending v Outcomes Scatterplots Earn Your Certificate in Ed Finance 2026 cohort: Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC Learn More & Register
