Change to funding formula gives principals spending power

By: Lisa Gartner

Principals in Prince George's County Public Schools set the course for their campuses -- but only have say over 2 percent of the school's budget. That figure would jump to 50 percent under a proposal from Superintendent William Hite.The primary goal of the new plan is to "weight" funding coming from central office to schools, based on at-risk populations and high-need classrooms. But another prong allows principals, once they receive these weighted funds, much more discretion over how to spend them. They can't paint the walls hot pink or cut vegetables from the school menu, but principals could make decisions about whether to beef up the English department or hire more math instructors.Traditionally, county schools have received central-office dollars based on student enrollment and staffing ratios.

Read more at the Washington Examiner:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/11/change-funding-formula-gives-principals-spending-power#ixzz1deeEkVKa