Student Based Budgeting
Student Based Funds
Below is a table listing the weights for the funding model. Weights given to student population groups are in addition to staffing ratios and meant to supplement school needs. The allocation is 100% flexible and the examples provided are not restrictive, merely a way to illustrate how schools can build their budgets
| Weight Name | Description | Weight | Examples of What Schools Can Budget for With Funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Weight | – The SBB base weight applies to all K-12 students* | 1.0x | – Classroom Teachers, – Dean of Students, – Assistant Principal – Instructional Aides |
| PK3 PK4 | – These Pre-K weights serve as the base weight for Pre-K enrollment across the district on top of staffing allocations for early childhood education | 0.3x 0.3x | – ECE Supplies, – Health Supplies, – Student travel for field trips, – Funds towards additional aides |
| Special Education Students English Language Learners | – These weights direct more funding to schools with higher concentrations of special education students and English language learners on top of their staffing allocations | 0.3x 0.3x | – Education Supplies – Funds towards additional aides or behavior techs – Funds towards Special Education Coordinator – Funds towards additional Aides – Education Supplies – Electronic Learning |
| Elementary Schools: At-Risk Enrollment > 40% Secondary Schools: At-Risk Enrollment > 40% Secondary Schools: At-Risk Enrollment > 70% | – Schools with higher concentrations of at-risk students receive funding on top of their At-Risk Grant through At-Risk Concentration Weights in SBB – These weights are incremental: Secondary schools with at least 70% students At-Risk receive an additional 0.2 weight for each at-risk student above that 70% threshold, meaning that those students get a total of a 0.4 weight | 0.2x 0.2x 0.2x | – Additional Supplies or Equipment – Funds towards additional SEL or Instructional staff – Student travel for Field Trip – Contractual Services for Community Partners |
*Excludes River Terrace, Stevens Early Learning, Youth Services Program and Inspiring Youth Program.
Staffing Ratios and Program Funds:
Staffing Ratios
Allocations are made through enrollment-based ratios to ensure essential services are adequately and equitably resourced. The budget development guide will share detailed information on allocation methodology as well as guardrails on the restrictions and flexibilities of the allocations.
Staffing ratios for FY22 include:
Detailed methodology for individual program allocations forthcoming in Principal Budget Development Guide
- Principal
- Schools will continue to receive an allocation of 1 Principal per school.
- Custodial Services
- Based on an updated formula taking school specific criteria including building size, school type, and utilization into account, schools will receive an allocation of custodial staff and supplies.
- Early Childhood Teachers & Aides
- Schools will continue to receive staffing for their Early Childhood Education classrooms per legal requirement. In FY22, schools will also receive supplemental funding as a weight in their SBB allocation to support additional supplies and programming for ECE.
- English Learner Teachers & Aides
- Schools will continue to receive an allocation of staff members to support English Learners. In FY22, schools will receive supplemental funding as a weight in their SBB allocation to support additional supplies and programming for English Learner students.
- Special Education Services
- In FY22, DCPS is maintaining the staffing ratio model for special education and adding a special education concentration weight, which will provide additional funding for resources at schools with larger special education enrollment.
- School Mental Health
- Schools will continue to receive an allocation of staff members based on an allocation formula. The budget development guide will display roles and responsibilities of the specific staff to support school leaders in building a strategic budget with the appropriate staff.
Program Funds and Grants
These funds are allocated to the school based on signature programming or supplemental allocations based on school programs and aggregate school attributes. In some cases, funds are tied to federal grant requirements.
Examples of FY22 Program and Grant Fund Allocations
Examples of FY22 Program and Grant Fund Allocations:
- Student Support Programs (At-Risk Grants, Title I and Title II)
- Career and Technical Education
- After School & Partners
- Specialty Programs such as International Baccalaureate Program and Twilight Academy
