OCTOBER 2014

ROI: MAKING EVERY DOLLAR COUNT

Let's say you want to improve elementary literacy scores in your district. You might use a Return on Investment (ROI) analysis to compare which professional development program will most help your literacy teachers for the money invested.

But is a new PD program even the best solution? You might see more ROI from recruiting and retaining better literacy teachers, changing compensation structures, or reorganizing the school day and teacher teams to focus resources on literacy.

As school district leaders think about next year's strategic planning and budgeting, we introduce System-Strategy ROI: a new approach that focuses first on students' needs and the district's vision for success, and aligns resources to that need and vision.

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Return on Investment in Education:
A System-Strategy Approach

Return on Investment analysis is a valuable way to improve the impact of your limited resources. But the typical approach may be missing an important opportunity. This white paper lays out five steps to a System-Strategy approach:

Identify the core need
Consider a broad range of options
Define ROI metrics and gather data
Weigh investment options
Make investment decisions

Download Return on Investment in Education �

Ideas to Consider Within System-Strategy ROI:

First Steps:

What School Systems Can Do Right Now to Improve Teacher Compensation and Career Path

School districts can change their teacher career path and compensation strategy in ways that impact student achievement, with little or no new investment. We offer four ideas for how.
Read the paper �

Leading from the Front of the Classroom:
A Roadmap for Teacher Leadership that Works
The Aspen Institute has released a practical guide for designing effective teacher leadership opportunities that are designed to advance the most important district priorities.
Learn more �

Teacher Leadership at Aspire Public Schools:
A Case Study
ERS highlights how the California-based charter management network supports teacher leadership.
Read the case study �

Principals' Strategic Data Use Offers Keys to Better Learning

An Education Week Letter to the Editor

ERS' David Rosenberg responds to a recently published study about how principals use teacher effectiveness data to make decisions, arguing that the district plays a key role.

Read the letter �

3 Ways States Can Support Districts

At the 2014 Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network Summit, Karen Hawley Miles participated in a panel on how states can better support districts.

Learn more �

Tools for Strategic and Budget Planning: Resource Check

District leaders can focus their strategic planning and budgeting with Resource Check: a quick self-assessment that allows the entire leadership team to highlight resource strengths and weaknesses.

Try the tool �

Educational Productivity

The Center for American Progress evaluates the educational productivity of major districts nationwide. Their approach differs somewhat from ERS', but it provides a fascinating way to think about

value-per-dollar.

Read the report �

Stay Connected

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EXPLORE OUR TOOLS:

School System 20/20 Vision See the possibilities �

School Budget Hold'em Explore budget trade-offs �

DREAM Create budget scenarios �

About ERS Contact Us

Education Resource Strategies (ERS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming how urban school systems organize resources--people, time, and money--so that every school succeeds for every student.

Education Resource Strategies

480 Pleasant St., Suite C-200, Watertown, MA 02472 T: 617.607.8000