Resource and Fiscal Management

This multi-page document contains the table templates referenced in

the course assignments.
You may use these templates in your submissions or recreate them in your
own professional style.

Use the links to jump to a specific module: MODULE 1 | MODULE 2

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Resource and Fiscal Management

MODULES 3-4
Sample – Budget Analysis Table
(A template table is available on the following page.)

Identified Instructional Improvement Target from SIP: 80% of students at each grade level
testing on or above grade level in reading
Grant Funding
Include the source in
Community Resources/
Discretionary Funding your draft grant
Volunteer
proposal in Module 3
Assignment 1.
Goals – state List specific funds and
three goals. total amounts available.
Include the
intervention
you selected
in Module 3
Assignment 1
as one of your
goals.
Goal 1: $10,000 for high- $60,000 to fund a Half-Price Bookstore –
Increase the interest, nonfiction Reading Recovery Donation of 50
amount of science and social teacher informational books to
informational studies books to each classroom library
reading increase students’ PTA – Family Reading
resources knowledge while Night
available to building or reinforcing
students reading skills

Goal 2: Title 1 Professional McDonalds – 500 $1

Provide Development Funds – coupons to be used as
professional $6,000 for PD for new
student incentives for
development teachers reading informational
on effective books
instructional $8,000 reading consultant
strategies for $16,000 supplemental
reading pay for after school
informational teacher work sessions
text.
Goal 3: Texas Instruments
Increase Grant – $20,000 for
technology mobile computing
tools available devices
for online Borders’ donation – One
reading of Nook for each classroom
informational
text. PTA – $500 for online
resources

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Resource and Fiscal Management

© 2021 American College of Education 3

Resource and Fiscal Management

MODULES 3-4
Template – Budget Analysis Table

Identified Instructional Improvement Target from SIP:

Grant Funding
Include the source in your Community Resources/
Discretionary Funding
draft grant proposal in Volunteer
Module 3 Assignment 1.
Goal 1: 5000$ for additional 30000$ to fund additional Stantec's donation of
Reporting on reading materials intervention 10000$ for a new
student’s intervention program
learning
Goal 2: Focus 10000$ for additional 30000$ to fund resources CoServ Charitable
on overall classes to improve performance Foundation donation of
student 10000$ for a new
performance intervention program

Goal 3: Close 2000$ for additional 40000$ to fund special Huchabee donation of
the academic examinations teachers offering 10000$ for new
achievement personalized learning intervention program
gap intervention

Part 1: Budget Analysis

Step 1. Write an introduction for the budgeting activity.
The school has a leadership team that is responsible for managing the available
resources for the sole purpose of enabling students to achieve their set goals of academic
excellence. As a result, the available resources must be well allocated to ensure that one
department does not lack while another has more than enough. Markedly, a good budget
ensures that the school can safeguard its funds against wastage and loss. Notably, the
government and other investors always look at the previous year’s budget to approve the next
year’s budget (Dias & Julio,2018). As such, proper budget preparation and analysis are vital for
the success of any school’s programs. In this regard, the paper will focus on the school’s budget
based on the new suggested improvement target.

Step 2. Create a table for your budget analysis. Include funding and other resources that are
already available, as well as new budgeting sources.

Part 2: Interview with Administrator

What happens to funding that is not used during a school year?

The funding that is not utilized by the end of the school year can go into supplementing
areas with more needs. For instance, the new improvement target requires specialized teachers
to be paid an additional amount to cover the additional hours they will have to spend helping
students with academic difficulties. The additional unspent funds can be used to hire a new
specialized teacher to help in managing the personalized learning program. Also, funds not
used can be used to add school supplies that are often used in personalized learning
intervention programs, such as visual aids.
How do administrators make sure they actually use all available funds during a school
year?

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Resource and Fiscal Management

The budget provides a guideline on how all allocated funds will be spent. In this case,
administrators must always ensure they follow the budget to the letter. Funds allocated should
remain only if the allocated activities did not take place due to unforeseen circumstances or
additional funding from well-wishers. In this light, administrators must not misuse funds just
because the school year is about to end and they still have some balance.
How do principals know what funding is available for discretionary use during the school
year?
The school has a discretional account that has specific guidelines on what the money is
meant for. Also, the account shows how much is to be spent for what activity, and if the
activities or expenditures do not take place within the school year, then the funds are accounted
for as remaining balances. The balance can either be spread across the following year’s
discretionary needs or the school needs.
How does your principal ensure he or she is getting student learning impact for the
amount of time, energy, and money invested in activities?
The principal holds department teachers accountable for student learning's impact. At
the end of each term, the principal gets academic performance reports from all teachers. The
principal then proceeds to examine the reports while comparing them with the previous term to
ascertain if they are making positive or negative progress. For teachers reporting negative
impact, a new intervention strategy is drafted. On the other hand, teachers reporting positive
impact are given resources to motivate their students to even improve their performance in the
following term. The motivation is based on awards for the student of the term, best-improving
students, and best-performing students.
What system does the principal have in place for monitoring the use of funds during the
year?
The principal requires all departments to provide a conclusive report on how all allocated
funds were spent to the last shilling. The reports are evaluated by experienced auditors who are
able to flag any cases of misappropriation.
How does the principal ensure use – but not overuse – of available funds?
The principal ensures that only the assigned money is spent at any given time by
approving all expenditures in the school. This way, he can effectively manage expenditure and
ensure there is no wastage or overusing of school funds.
What safeguards are in place to protect administrators, office staff, and teachers from
potential allegations of misuse of funds?
The school has forms that require people requesting funds to sign and ascertain if they
took the funds for a specific reason. In case of misuse, the principal can always check the
signature of the fund’s collector and question them thereof on the misuse of funds reported.
How can you help your principal maximize the current use of funds and resources to
help improve student achievement?
I can help the principal maximize the current use of funds and resources by ensuring
that all allocated activities take place. The activities could range from education fairs with other
schools to games and recreational trips that help students to connect with their peers.
Conclusion
In summary, a school budget is a very vital element for the school’s overall success in all
aspects. Certainly, a school cannot improve students’ performance without a budget to cover
the involved costs. For instance, in the introduction of the new personalized learning
intervention program, there is a need for funds to pay the specialized teachers, additional
classrooms, and additional learning materials. Therefore, the school has to get the required
funding to ensure that they improve students’ performance.

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Resource and Fiscal Management

Reference
Dias, N., & Júlio, S. (2018). The next thirty years of participatory budgeting in the world start
today. Hope for democracy, 30, 15-32.

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