District Note about Student Based Allocation

Dear families of Southwest High School,

As you may know, this school year MPS has been working with pilot schools to develop a more equitable method to distribute school funding. This funding model is called student-based allocation (SBA). SBA is a formula for allocating school funding based on the unique needs of students. SBA is a more objective, predictable and transparent process for allocating funding than the current model used by MPS, which is largely based on student enrollment.

SBA gives schools money for students based on outstanding and unique learning needs. For example, currently, students with special education needs who are identified as levels 1-5 receive the same amount of funding regardless of their level of need. Under SBA, a school would receive more funding if it serves children with more intensive special education. Learning needs being factored into the SBA formula include English language learner proficiency, school grade levels and advanced learning needs, among others.

Ten principals volunteered to be part of this pilot to help MPS fully explore how various SBA models would play out in a variety of school settings and student populations. Only MPS’ four Community Partnership Schools (listed below) received allocations using the SBA model for the 2015-16 school year. MPS will continue the SBA pilot into the 2015-16 school year with the pilot schools listed below. The school district will be seeking family and teacher input on SBA next school year to ensure we develop the most equitable SBA formula possible, taking into account a wide range of school needs.

Pilot Schools:

Marcy (Area A, grades K-8)

Pillsbury (Area A, grades pre-K-5)

Roosevelt (Area B, grades 9-12)

Hale (Area C, grades K-4)

Lake Harriet Upper (Area C, grades 4-8)

Lyndale (Area C, grades pre-K-5)

Community Partnership Schools:

Bancroft (Area C, grades pre-K-5)

Folwell (Area B, grades K-8)

Nellie Stone Johnson (Area A, grades pre-K-5)

Ramsey (Area C, grades 6-8)

To learn more, please visit the SBA website where you can view and listen to a recording of interim Superintendent Goar’s budget and SBA presentation from MPS’ budget forums in May (will be posted by May 26). The site also has an FAQ, mock SBA formulas and mock budgets:

www.mpls.k12.mn.us/student-based-allocation

I want to stress that we are using the traditional budget model in 2015-16. If you have questions specific to our school budget, please contact our school office at 612-668-3030.

Sincerely,

Bil Smith

Principal, Southwest High School