Understanding Flexibility Levels and Fund Sources
Overview
To maintain transparency in allocation funding and flexibility, the initial allocation worksheet displays the fund source and flexibility level of each allocation. The fund source relates to how the district receives the funds, and the flexibility level relates to how much autonomy Principals have in budgeting those funds. Below are definitions of the fund sources and levels of flexibility to help understand the initial budget allocation worksheet.
Fund Sources on the FY25 Initial Budget Allocation Worksheets
Local – These allocations are funded by local dollars from the city’s UPSFF. Some are fully locked (L1) due to programmatic or legal requirements or because they are part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Additionally, some allocations in this fund source are pre-budgeted (L2) and fully flexible (L3) allocations.
English (i.e., Multilingual) Learner Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (EL UPSFF)* – This fund source contains allocations provided to schools through the city’s UPSFF. Per D.C. Act 24-176, DCPS must have a separate funding source for the elementary and secondary ELL student weight.
At-Risk and At-Risk Overage* – This fund source contains allocations provided to schools through the city’s Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF). Per D.C. Act 24-176, DCPS must have a separate funding source for at-risk students and at-risk high school overage supplement. Per DC Code, DCPS allocates 90% of the at-risk supplement directly to schools.
At-Risk Concentration – This fund source contains allocations provided to schools through the UPSFF at-risk concentration. DCPS allocates 100% of the UPSFF at-risk concentration amount directly to schools. Note that the DCPS at-risk concentration weight part of Student-Based funds is locally funded and not funding through at-risk dollars.
Title I – Title I – Schoolwide funds are a combination of Title I and Title II funds at Title I schools and are budgeted in support of Title I students at the school. Title I – Parent & Family Engagement funds are fully locked.
Title II – These allocations are funded by Title II and cannot be repurposed during the budget development process.
Department of Defense (DoD) – These allocations fund the JROTC programming at high schools and are funded by a cost sharing agreement with the Department of Defense and cannot be repurposed during the budget development process.
21st Century– Allocations for afterschool programming at participating Title I elementary and education campuses are loaded here. These allocations are funded by the 21st Century Grant and cannot be repurposed outside of afterschool programming during budget development.
Stabilization – Schools that received stability funding in the form of stabilization will find those dollars here.
*Information about the EL UPSFF and At-Risk tracking requirements can be found on page 84: https://lims.dccouncil.us/downloads/LIMS/47312/Signed_Act/B24-0285-Signed_Act.pdf
Levels of Flexibility
The model provides funding to schools for positions, programs, and non-personnel dollars. Each allocation is designated a level of flexibility (1-3) that determines principal autonomy over budgeting the allocation, programs, and non-personnel dollars. Each allocation is designated a level of flexibility (1-3) that determines principal autonomy over budgeting the allocation.
There are no changes to flexibility levels from FY24 to FY25.
See the definitions below:
Level 1 (Required – Locked): These allocations are unable to be changed. This may be determined by fund source requirements or allowability, such as grants and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), legal requirements, or other core operational considerations.
Level 2 (Required – Rarely flexible): Any shift in the allocation will maintain the intended purpose of the original allocation. Principals must demonstrate how they will meet related programmatic requirements.
Level 3 (Flexible): These allocations are provided to schools to budget for staff and programming.
Exercising Flexibility Over Allocations: Requested changes made to Level 2 allocations through budget petitions will be reviewed holistically by Instructional Superintendents and Program Teams to ensure all requirements are still met.
