Ensuring Every Dollar Spent on Education Benefits Students
When it comes to improving outcomes for people on the ground, securing federal or other funding is just the beginning; real impact requires disciplined prioritization to define interventions, track progress against goals, and drive accountability.
DA provided support on two fronts:
First, DA helped PRDE allocate Restart funds by prioritizing and defining the purpose of the allocation criteria and assisting with effective program operations. DA set targets for each project’s outcomes, administered one-on-one support to each team, and designed a data and tracking system to evaluate results and drive outcomes.
Second, DA conducted a detailed review to determine where PRDE could save, thereby increasing available funds for schools and students. For example, DA analyzed utilities sectors (water, electricity, and gas), compiled clean and georeferenced databases, and discovered they could save money by discontinuing water and gas in abandoned schools.
PRDE allocated 50% of available funds in less than three months in a transparent process that strategically prioritized benefits for schools and students.
Our expenditures audit helped PRDE save ~$84M in 2020 and 2021.
These funds were redistributed to improve classrooms and repair schools.
