The Goal-driven Budget

A goal-driven budget is a budget in which the allocation of resources within the district is made in an equitable manner that serves as a reflection of the districts Vision.  The allocation and distribution of funds is made in an effort to improve programs, services, and results.  Each district in Texas creates a district improvement plan (DIP) that outlines the plans and goals for the district.  Each school within the district will also create a campus improvement plan (CIP) that states the goals, actions, and resources necessary to meet the goals of the campus.  In each case, the goals, actions, and resource allocation within the district should mirror the Vision of the Board of Trustees.  When all resource allocation is made with the Vision of the Board in mind, then a goal-driven budget has been made.

In my district, a failure to meet AYP led our Board of Trustees to refocus our district’s Vision.  In doing so, the decision was made to allocate additional Federal funds toward the creation of a PLC model within our district.  Additionally, within the PLC model, the decision was made to focus on project-based learning (PBL) and differentiated instruction (DI) models of learning.  The determination to address the needs of our students through DI and PBL reflected the Board’s Vision which includes, “Where all students learn, grow and succeed.”

In order to implement the new programs, significant resources had to be allocated.  To improve our attendance (for WADA), new programs were purchased to improve accountability for schools and parents to enhance our daily attendance-taking procedures.  The new programs required a significant investment in training, materials, and time.  Expenses for training included travel, books, speakers’ fees, substitute staff, and staff development services fees (for outside PD).  All of those expenses were allocated based upon a very detailed plan that was created by a district leadership committee and submitted through the Superintendent to the board of Trustees. 

All of our purpose-driven budgeting was made with a communication and feedback loop through our Board of Trustees and DIP committee (which includes community stakeholders) so that all district stakeholders had the opportunity to know that these systems and allocations were made with the district Vision in mind.