Leading district finances during a time of financial turmoil
School districts are deciding how to spend the largest-ever one-time federal investment in public education, following a school year that brought a host of challenges that landed unevenly on schools, children, and families across the country. We’re compiling resources to help leaders navigate the opportunities and challenges involved in making decisions about how to use these highly flexible funds. Those who spend the time to compute costs, identify desired outcomes, involve their communities and are nimble along the way will have the most to show for it.
You can use this cost equivalent worksheet with your finance teams, with school leaders and in community conversations to gather “meaningful” input on spending priorities.
What we are learning
Resources from Our District Finance Network
Beginning with the financial turmoil in early 2020, the topics range from early projections of state and district economic outlooks to strategic budget cutting and stakeholder communications, the impacts of enrollment shifts and learning loss on district finances, and the implications of massive federal relief funds for K-12.
Big picture takeaways
Get smarter on using financial data with Georgetown University’s Certificate in Education Finance
This interactive course is designed to help district leaders and their finance teams, board members, school principals, and others leverage funds to do the most for students in a way that is financially sustainable, transparent, and equitable.
Participants engage in hands-on experiences navigating competing financial pressures, explore current fiscal and other data to inform choices, and practice strategies to engage their communities and build trust.
Contact Jordan.Tollefson@georgetown.edu with any questions or to inquire about bringing your district team.