Non-clients: $520 per attendee
Program Ends: 12:00 PM
California’s school superintendents and program administrators are charged with the dual responsibility of developing multiyear strategic plans and managing the fiscal resources of their local educational agencies (LEAs). Leadership teams that achieve the greatest success are those who can identify fiscal opportunities as they arise, anticipate challenges, and plan strategically to meet both immediate and long-term needs. The recent leveling off of federal and state funding provided unprecedented opportunities, followed by challenges—and significant responsibilities—for school leadership to influence, improve, and continue educational programs.
For today’s superintendents and top-level administrators, effective collaboration with educational partners requires more than simply understanding the budget. It demands the ability to clearly communicate fiscal priorities and realities in context to labor groups, governing boards, and the broader school community. California’s funding model is complex, influenced not only by state economic conditions but also by local enrollment trends, attendance patterns, and shifting student demographics. With the state’s once-robust economy showing signs of slowing, student enrollment declining, and student needs increasing, the decisions made by school leaders are more consequential than ever.
This course is purpose-built for superintendents and top-level administrators, with a focus on connecting financial understanding to strategic leadership. Drawing on decades of combined expertise in school finance and governance, presenters from the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team and School Services of California Inc. will equip non-financial leaders with the tools needed to make sound fiscal, policy, and programmatic decisions.
Who Should Attend
- Superintendents
- Assistant and deputy superintendents for educational programs
- Program administrators
Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the fiscal landscape, enhanced confidence in financial decision-making, and practical strategies to lead their LEAs through today’s economic challenges—while keeping student success at the forefront.
What You’ll Learn
- How to distill the complexities of school finance into practical, actionable knowledge tailored specifically for superintendents and senior administrators
- How to design a strategic planning and budget cycle that aligns Local Control and Accountability Plan goals with budget priorities
- How to determine a healthy reserve and effectively communicate reserve strategies to interest holders
- The use of multiyear financial projections in evaluating your LEA’s fiscal health
- Approaches to planning and analyzing staffing needs, including the budget impact of personnel decisions
- An understanding of the latest in collective bargaining and strategies to manage fiscal impacts
- Best practices for monitoring and controlling budgets to avoid financial surprises
- The operational impact of cash deferrals on operations
- Strategies for deploying one-time funds
- Best practices to minimize fiscal risk
- Most current information available as it relates to state policies, legislation, etc.
Non-clients: $520 per attendee
Program Ends: 12:00 PM