Governments of all kinds have worked hard over the last year handling the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts have faced particular challenges in keeping students and staff safe while providing instruction and other needed supports to their students. No one knows how long it will take for things to get back to normal, and the issues schools will have to overcome between now and then are numerous— particularly the looming shortfalls in revenue from local and state sources. As a result, being strategic and targeted in balancing school budgets will be more important than ever.

What is the Alliance?

The Alliance for Excellence in School Budgeting is an early adopter group of nearly 100 school districts working to implement GFOA’s Best Practices in School Budgeting. A part of the Smarter School Spending initiative, the Alliance first met in 2015 and includes a diverse group of districts from across the United States. Member districts range in size from several hundred to several hundred thousand students, representing a broad range of student performance and other key demographics as well. Participants in the Alliance for Excellence in School Budgeting enjoy benefits such as access to resource materials and hands-on training to help them throughout the implementation process. More importantly, Alliance members are able to network with their peer organizations to share their experiences and knowledge.

• Publication date: February 2021
• Author: Matt Bubness