Leading With Equity: A Principal's Approach to Weighted Student Funding

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Principal Leadership and School District Personnel Staffing to Support High-Quality Conditions for Teaching and Learning (Table 37)

Abstract

Weighted Student Funding (WSF) systems grant schools increased autonomy in allocating funds, with principals responsible for maintaining operations and fostering innovation. Despite its importance, research on principals' financial decision-making remains scarce. This study offers practical insights into one school's strategies, emphasizing staff perceptions about WSF usage for operations and innovation. A case study investigated a principal who transformed a failing school using WSF effectively. Findings show that principals can strategically apply regulated financial management to encourage teachers to contemplate WSF's role in achieving educational goals. The principal built consensus on the school's direction, promoted innovation through hands-on experiential learning, and focused on obtaining funding for teachers with innovative ideas. It highlights the evolving landscape of financial resource utilization in schools.

Author

• Chun Sing Maxwell Ho, The Education University of Hong Kong