Smarter Budgets, Smarter Schools

In this second updated edition of Smarter Budgets, Smarter Schools, Nathan Levenson proposes fresh strategies for more efficient, equitable resource allocation within school districts.Budgets, according to Levenson, can be a surprisingly powerful lever for improved student achievement outcomes and equity. Readers will find practical advice for funding equity initiatives and social-emotional services, among other student needs. Levenson also discusses how to accommodate common, necessary school expenses and district improvement measures such as capital purchases, personnel costs, and campus renovations within tight funding models. The key is creativity: Levenson invites readers to shift their mindsets and embrace innovative ideas for using limited resources strategically.An indispensable guide, Smarter Budgets, Smarter Schools delivers proven, successful practices for school leaders--superintendents, central office leaders, building principals, and school board members--who hope to make smarter, better informed financial decisions and stretch declining district budgets. Levenson provides real-world examples, critical worksheets, and actionable suggestions to help decision-makers apply these concepts and realize a greater academic return on their investments."Nathan Levenson is a rare education leader who not only talks the talk but walks the walk, who not only thinks big ideas but also sweats the small stuff. In this essential book, he connects the dots between great budgets and great outcomes for kids, reminding us that more money is nice to have, but money well spent can change the world." --Michael J. Petrilli, president, Thomas B. Fordham Institute Nathan Levenson is the president of New Solutions K12, an education consulting firm.