Funds provided by your district's general account
Funds generally cannot be used for food, trophies, certificates, items to be given away (t-shirts, etc.), or used equipment.
Often purchases can only be made using district approved vendors. No Amazon, etc.
Provided to teachers as a place to deposit all fees collected, fundraising funds, and all donations and grant funds.
Funds generally can be used for most needs including items not allowed with General Account funds.
Often purchases can only be made using district approved vendors. No Amazon, etc.
Booster Funds
Booster groups are made up of parents and other stakeholders of your school or program.
Informal vs. Formal
Formal groups (501c3, etc.) can open bank accounts and help raise funds for programs. Funds have no limitations so adjunct staff (colorguard and drumline staff), and purchases from Amazon, etc. are allowed. Funds can also be made available immediately via checks, transfers, and credit cards.
Donors Choose and Other Donation Programs & Grants
Donors Choose - Who Owns the Resources? Any materials or resources we send should be directly experienced by the students as described in the project essay. After they’ve been used, resources are property of the classroom for which they were initially requested, so future classes can continue to benefit.
Other Donation Programs & Grants - All materials, funding, and resources provided to the program must stay with the program.
Bond Funds
If available, funds will be provided by your district for specific items and needs.
Districts obtain bond funds through public vote (and a lot of legal work) and cannot be used for anything not listed in the legal expenditure category or bond.
Items purchased nearly always must be new and inventoriable. In some cases, remodeling a current structure can be allowed, but does depend on the legal language in the bond.
Federal Funds
These funds and how they are spent, is up to each district and will vary greatly depending upon the district where you teach.
Title I - Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps by allocating federal funds for education programs and services. Must be tied directly to student learning - most usually tied to curriculum purchases and hiring teachers and staff.
Title II - The purpose of the program is to provide grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) and subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to increase student achievement consistent with the challenging State academic standards; improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools; and provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders. Most usually used by districts to provide professional learning, conference registration and travel, and also may be used for additional instructional coaches or coaching materials.
If you enter any contest, you pay whether or not your group goes or a particular student goes to the contest.
Swapping students on ALL solo, all region, and all state audition entries is not allowed.
Pay your bill as soon as the event is over! Entire schools are punished if bills are not paid!
OSSAA - Register for an account and READ THE HANDBOOK!
District Transportation
Advantages: Less expensive, a variety of vehicles types, and other teachers, coaches, and staff members can drive for you.
Disadvantages: Must be booked well in advance, limited hours of availability, special permission needed to cross state lines and overnight trips.
Chartered or Rented Transportation
Advantages: Drivers are provided, larger vehicles, booster group parents as well as school staff can drive rented trucks, vans, and cars, no limit on days of the week or hours, most charter buses are very nice and are great for long trips. Vehicle types are made for driving long distances typically.
Disadvantages: EXPENSIVE, must also be booked well in advance
In ALL Cases
A PO or payment must be submitted at the time of booking.
Need Instruments?
Borrow from Peer Group if You Have An Immediate Need
Travel Documentation and Preparedness
OKCPS Sample Permission Slip (English, Spanish, Pashto, Farsi, Burm Viet)
Ideas for Preparing Emergency Go Bag for Each Bus or Vehicle