Step 5: Identify Funding Strategy and Sources

Step 5: Identify Funding Strategy and Sources p.1

Step 5: Identify Funding Strategy and Sources

Generally, school districts that are planning to implement systemic and systematic SEL are addressing a specific problem or need, are responding to a precipitating event, or are engaged in reform toward a newbold vision. Districts implement SEL to address problems or needs such aslow academic achievement, discipline disparities, or violence. Precipitating events which may cause a school district to implement SEL may include a school shooting, a natural disaster, or a scandal. Alternatively, a new strategic plan, new superintendent, or a new board of trustees, may introduce a new vision or set of strategies, such as college and career preparedness, themed or charter schools, achievement of Common Core State Standards, or STEM education.

Often, some funding has been identified or allocated to implement SEL prior to planning the initiative. It may be general education funding from the local school district budget, district allocation of state or federal funding for which the district has discretion, or a state, federal, or foundation grant. Start filling in this known or estimated funding into “Budget Sources” in rows 26 to 34 of the spreadsheet you started in Step 4.

For this step, consider gathering together high level district leaders who have decision making authority regarding budgets. At this meeting:

• Review your planning work thus far in Steps 1-4. Describe your SEL vision, desired outcomes, strategies, expense budget, and identified budget sources.
• Have a general discussion with the group about these topics. Encourage questions and input. Be open to incorporating changes into the next plan iteration.
• Use the calculated Estimated Development Need (Row 36) to gauge the additional funding needed. Projecting the spreadsheet on to a screen and making live modifications is an effective planning strategy.

• Consider reallocating the following budgets toward SEL:

Local District Funds

• Are there any unallocated one-time funds which could be allocated toward SEL in years 1 and 2? Several SEL expenses can be categorized as one-time expenses:

Initial professional development (SEL 101) for SEL lead, SEL specialists, or district and school leaders.

Bringing together initial planning groups to engage in one time tasks, such as developing SEL standards or selection of SEL evidence-based programs.

Funding the purchase of evidence-based programs and initial professional development.

• Are there any budgets that are integrated with SEL or replaced with the planned implementation of SEL? For example, consider school climate and culture assessment, behavioral programs, or teacher professional development in instructional methodology, student engagement, classroom management, etc.?
• Are there any programs which are not demonstrating outcomes, whose budgets can be reallocated to SEL?

• Federal and state district discretionary funds: Often, these funds are “use it or lose it”, for which district administrators have a need to spend money, generally on one-time expenses toward the end of the fiscal or school year. In addition, SEL is an ideal intervention to address the goals of many federal and state programs. Many districts utilize federal funds to support SEL. A key resource in this area is A Guide to Federal Education Programs that can Fund K-12 Universal Prevention and Social and Emotional Learning Activities published by the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools and Center for Education Policy at George Washington University.
• Federal, state, and foundation grants: While it may take some work, changing budget allocations on an existing grant is generally allowed, particularly if the goals, objectives, and outcome metrics are remaining the same. Consider reallocating existing grant funding when there is close alignment with the District SEL implementation and the objectives of the grant. Often, the biggest hurdle in this strategy is managing existing staff resources.

• It is okay to have additional funding gaps in years 3-6. In initial planning sessions. Even in year 2, it may be difficult to get a full commitment, particularly with allocation of federal funds.It is important, however, to get started with development of a sustainable implementation, to have a commitment offunding for year 2.
• If there is not clarity on where funds are coming from in years 3-6, formulate a fund development plan. If there is a district department or consultant who leads fund development, donor engagement, or grant writing, seek assistance from these knowledgeable people to develop your plan. Engaging donors and foundations can take more than two years, so it is wise to start early on implementing your fund development plan. View the resources below for guidance regarding fund development.

• Make the economic case for SEL, particularly the use of evidence-based programs, by using The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning (Belfield, et.al.) in which researchers found that for every dollar spent on six programs studied, schools received $11 in benefits.

• Based on the above study,EviBlad wrote a blog entitled Benefits of Social-Emotional Programs Far Outweigh Their Costs, Study Finds. (Education Week, February 26, 2015)

• Tim Shriver, CASEL Board Chair, and John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises and former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, have also written a compelling commentary: Social-Emotional Learning Pays Off. (Education Week, March 18, 2015)

• A great resource for identifying federal programs to support SEL is A Guide to Federal Education Programs that can Fund K-12 Universal Prevention and Social and Emotional Learning Activities published by the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools and Center for Education Policy at George Washington University.

• If you are considering an SEL funding strategy that includes donor and foundation support, read the SEL Financial Sustainability Case Study for Austin Independent School District. Take note of the fund development strategies they use and review their budget sources.

• SEL leaders are encouraged to work with your district fund development and grant writing staffs, and there is no substitute for increasing your own grant writing skills through a course and/or partnering with a skilled mentor. An excellent online resource with many fund development tips and tricks is For Impact.There are many free resources, as well as workshops (for a fee.)

Systemic SEL: Tool to Plan for Financial Sustainability
Step 5: Identify Funding Strategy and Sources