Sunland STEAM Academy

At the April Governing Board Meeting, Roosevelt School District Superintendent Dr. Dani Portillo provided an update on the interim goals for Superintendent Guardrail #3.

Guardrail 3

In attaining the Board’s student outcome goals, the Superintendent shall not allocate district budget resources in a manner that does not prioritize and support student outcome-focused goals, ensuring that financial decisions directly contribute to the academic and developmental success of all students.

Interim Guardrail 1

August 2025, establish a system for tracking and publicly reporting the impact and per-pupil cost of all major curricular investments on student performance outcomes, district academic Guardrails, and superintendent guardrails.

Interim Guardrail 2

By August 2025, establish a system for tracking and publicly reporting the impact and per-pupil cost of all major professional development investments including presenter, materials, salary, and travel costs on student performance outcomes, district academic Guardrails, and superintendent guardrails.

Interim Guardrail 3

By January 2026, establish a system for tracking and publicly reporting the impact and per-pupil cost of all major capital investments including technology, furniture, construction, and transportation investments on student performance outcomes, district academic Guardrails, and superintendent guardrails.

Purpose and Why it Matters

This process ensures assessment results consistently translate into aligned instructional, financial, and operational actions. It replaces fragmented decision‑making with a transparent, equity‑focused approach tied directly to student needs.

Purpose

• Create a repeatable, districtwide process that turns assessment data into aligned instructional and operational decisions.

Why it matters

• Ensures assessment results drive real action, not just reports

• Aligns Teaching & Learning with Business Services

• Promotes equity, fiscal responsibility, and compliance

• Improves transparency, monitoring, and continuous improvement

The Collaboration Model

Teaching and Learning, Business Services, and district leadership jointly analyze data, assess feasibility, and prioritize actions. This shared ownership reduces silos and ensures instructional priorities are executable, compliant, and fiscally responsible.

Teaching and Learning

• Analyze assessment data

• Identify learning gaps and priority standards

• Define instructional and resource needs

Business Services and HR

• Validate feasibility (budget, timelines, compliance)

• Support procurement, staffing, and implementation

Executive Team

• Jointly prioritize actions

• Balance impact, equity, and constraints

• Approve and document decisions

Outcome: Fewer silos, clearer roles, faster and more responsible execution

Repeatable Six-Phase Cycle

Following each assessment window, the district team moves through a predictable cycle from data review and feasibility to implementation, monitoring, and reflection. This structure embeds data‑driven decision‑making throughout the school year rather than as a one‑time event.

Aligned to Assessment Cycles

1. Data Review - Identify gaps, priorities, and needed supports

2. Feasibility Evaluation - Test against budget, operations, and compliance

3. Joint Prioritization - Agree on actions using shared criteria

4. Implementation and Procurement - Execute decisions and deploy resources

5. Monitoring - Check fidelity, progress, and spend

6. Reflection and Refinement - Evaluate impact and improve the next cycle

Governance and Guardrails

Embedded governance ensures transparency, accountability, equity, and compliance at every phase. Data is used responsibly to improve instruction, with decisions documented, monitored and reviewed for continuous improvement.

• Transparency - Shared data, documented decisions, clear rationale

• Accountability - Defined roles, approvals, and monitoring

• Equity and Compliance - Resources aligned to student need and funding rules

• Continuous Improvement - Outcomes reviewed and processes refined every cycle

Core Principle: Data is used exclusively to improve instruction and student outcomes.

Board and Community Value

This process provides confidence that spending decisions are driven by student need and evidence. It creates a clear line of sight from assessment data to action, impact, and stewardship of public resources.

What This Delivers for the Board and the Community

• Confidence that data drives spending

• Clear line of sight from student need → action → impact

• Predictable, auditable decision cycles

• Strong alignment of instruction, finance, operations, and governance

Per Student Cost Tracker and Report

Guardrail 3.3: Capital Investments