Stability Funding

The Basics

It is important that our budget model effectively supports schools of all sizes. The funding model was designed to provide schools with year-over-year stability funds, with safety net checks and stabilization dollars that will protect school budgets from the impact of fluctuating enrollment and ensure that schools can afford a baseline level of general education services with their student-based funds.

If a school receives any of the Stability Funding Allocations, they will be displayed individually on the Initial Allocation worksheet.

Stability Funding in the DCPS School Funding Model

The funding model provides stability funding to schools in two distinct ways. Note that in any given budget year, there could be additional one-time stability funds provided to schools outside of the Funding Model. Those are not captured here.

Stabilization

Schools receive stabilization funding to maintain an initial allocation amount that is no less than 95% of their prior year submitted budget. In FY24, stabilization is calculated using schools’ FY24 formulaic budget and comparing it to their FY23 submitted budget (March 2022) excluding any one-time funding. These funds are fully flexible and can be used at the principals’ discretion to budget for staff and programming at the school. 

Safety Net Supplement

The safety net supplement is provided to schools when the student-based funds do not generate enough dollars to provide a baseline of services by school type. The model calculates the cost of the baseline services at every school based on the individual school’s enrollment and school type. If the amount of student-based funding generated by a school is not enough to afford the safety net, then a school is allocated a “safety net supplement” which is the amount of funding a school would need to afford their safety net. Safety net funds are fully flexible.

What is it?

• An assurance that student-based funds (Mark and Ella) can afford a baseline level of services for all schools based on school type/size
• Schools whose Student based funds do not generate enough funds to pay for these items will receive a stability fund allocation “safety net supplement” which is the amount needed to afford their safety net.

What is it not?

• A direct allocation of items
• A guarantee that schools are budgeting these positions in this manner (where program requirements is important)
• The only way schools receive funding. Schools can budget for these and more positions using other funding streams

Mayor’s Recovery Funds

FY24 will mark the second year of Mayor’s Recovery Funds as committed to by Mayor Muriel Bowser.  In FY24, Mayor’s Recovery Funds will be used to stabilize schools at 95% of their FY23 funding level including one-time funds.  DCPS typically stabilizes schools to their previous fiscal year submitted budget not including any one-time funds provided outside of the school funding model formula. In FY23, some schools received Mayor’s Recovery Funds to provide stability during the pandemic. These funds were designed to help schools maximize buying power by allowing them to afford similar levels of staff and programming from FY22 and are to be budgeted at the principals’ discretion. This is a one-time allocation in FY24.