Financial Transparency Working Group: State Activity thus Far September 19, 2017 By: Marguerite Roza Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University

Communicating During the Call To request to be unmuted, please use the hand raise tool Use the question box to ask questions or make a comment, and we will reply all so the group can see the question/comment & answer bscpcenter.org

Agenda Summary of state activity Three Big Takeaways Communication tips/templates State activity: examples from states In-person meeting details Next meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1-2pm ET

What Steps Have You Taken So Far? We Asked About The Following: Piloting new accounting tools, processes, or data collection Local working groups/ Task force Communication w/ LEAs (formal vs. informal) Data analyses Draft accounting rules or guidance for LEAs Sample data reports & visualizations Training for LEAs around this requirement Contract RFPs issued Other?

19 states sent updates! CO, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NE, NJ, NY, OR, RI, UT, VT, WY

Who’s doing what…

Three Big Takeaways on Communication Inaccurate reference to federal requirement. Regulations/guidance are gone! No federal requirement for “uniform procedure,” rules about denominator. Five states acknowledge waiting to proceed until U.S. Dept. of Ed releases new guidance. We suggest not waiting. At least four states are limiting communication with LEAs or other stakeholders until the state has firm rules, procedures, or requirements in place re financial data. Here again, we suggest moving forward sooner rather than later. And in Years 1 and 2, it may be useful to to proceed with minimal rules/requirements.

Communication Tip #1: Statewide memo to all stakeholders informing them about upcoming data Cite federal law (without accompanying now repealed regulation or guidance) Celebrate the opportunity (data when paired w/ demographics and outcomes can be a tool for system improvement) Describe state readiness to meet the requirement List state plan over following months (pilot, etc.) Invite LEAs to examine their own data Describe opportunities to participate, provide input. Edunomics Lab has prepared a memo template that can be adapted to each state. Use the question box to indicate if you would like a editable copy.

Communication Tip # 2: Encourage LEAs to examine their data now Five Questions LEAs Should Ask Now: Do some schools stand out as getting less or more than their share of funds? If so, why? Are district allocations for high-need students boosting spending at high-need schools?  Are salary patterns driving uneven spending in ways that cause concern? Is central spending lean and of high value? How do student outcomes vary with spending? Are some schools able to leverage dollars to do more for students than others with the same share?

Communication Tip # 2, cont. Encourage LEAs to examine their data now Soon to be released in School Administrator: Step-by-Step instructions for LEAs to examine their financial data in advance of public release.

State Examples for Discussion Piloting new accounting tools, processes, or data collection Oregon: making adjustments to COA, working with stakeholders to address culture change. Local working groups/ Task force Mississippi: statewide working group compiling FY 17 data to test state process. Communication w/ LEAs Much of existing communications was informal (conference presentations). Formal: Colorado: Communicating via webinars.

State Examples for Discussion Data Analyses Five states considering releasing data for FY 18 (in advance of requirement). CT, CO, RI, NE, OR Michigan: Examining FY 17 data now for completeness/compliance Draft accounting rules or guidance for LEAs New York: Initial guidance will be broad (more like “principles”) with specifics fine-tuned through the advisory process. Sample data reports & visualizations Nebraska aiming for Dec 2017 release of sample reports

State Examples for Discussion Training for LEAs around this requirement Missouri hosting October webinars with LEAs/vendors to describe data conversions RFP/Consultants Hired in 4 states Illinois: Using consultants to facilitate process

Willing to Share State Resources? Have any tools, sample communication, etc. that other states may benefit from? Email them to Katie & she’ll put links in the powerpoint before it’s uploaded to the Financial Transparency site.

FiTWiG Supporters Next meeting: October 4, 1-2pm ET What’s most urgent for your state? Topic ideas? In-person meeting coming up: Oct 23-25 CCSSO in Raleigh, NC Another in person meeting in DC, week of Feb. 5 FiTWiG Supporters bscpcenter.org