Throughout the course, I was immersed in instructional and financial planning for the 2016-17 school year. I used two main resources: Local Control Funding Formula – Supplemental and Concentration Funds, and Title I, Part A
While the first is specific to California schools, the second is common to all U.S. schools and many states have similar requirements for local school plans that go by other names. I focused on the process by which the instructional and budget plans were developed at HTMCV for professional development, with special attention to high-risk students. Typically, students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals, students who are English language learners, foster and homeless youth, and students with disabilities are considered to be at-risk populations.
In general, the regulations pertaining to these resources call for planning to be done annually that incorporates all of the following steps: 1. Review of current year objectives, expenditures and results (from plan created the prior spring) 2. Needs assessment 3. Review of research to identify promising strategies/materials 4. Development/purchase of strategies/materials to address areas in need of improvement (this could include dedicating funds for different or additional personnel) 5. Costing and prioritization of strategies/materials 6. Development of budget plan to implement the strategies 7. Development of an implementation action plan
Throughout the process, input from teachers, parents, staff, students, and community members was incorporated into my planning efforts.