Welcome to
What's the “return on investment” in your school system budget?

Explore options that balance investments and savings with a focus on the real bottom line—student performance.

Start a new game
What is Budget Hold'em for Resource Equity?

This is more than a game, it's an interactive experience that helps leaders envision a district budget in relation to four key dimensions that impact equitable experiences and outcomes for students.

The game encourages participants to step outside of their day-to-day decision-making to consider their choices in a new way. Each card was crafted using real district data and scenarios from our more than 20 years working with districts nationwide. Amplify the game's impact by working through challenges as a team with cabinet members, school boards, policymakers, advocates, and more!

To truly improve student outcomes, education leaders must think differently about how they balance reductions and investments. Hold'em can help. 

How to Play?
  • Take the perspective of a school system leader, like a Chief Financial Officer, Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer, or Chief of Schools. Hold'em works best when you play in a group representing different departments, including finance and academics.
  • Keep in mind your school system's most important needs and priorities.
  • In the game, you'll receive "deals" of cards describing potential investments and savings. Choose to "play" cards that fit your priorities, increase student achievement, and help meet a budget target. Be realistic, but also open-minded and bold.
  • In the final round, you'll find more information on the resource strategies you chose.
Why play Hold’em?

School systems can't afford to just cut - or to layer new money onto old strategies. If we want to improve student achievement, education leaders must think differently about how to balance reductions and investments. This means working across departmental "silos" to craft a budget that reflects the district's key priorities, takes into account the "return on investment" of new strategies ( in terms of student achievement) and thoughtfully pairs strategies to have the greatest impact.

This tool uses real district data and scenarios based on ERS' work from over 15 years in districts nationwide. It has been played by over 10,000 people in person and online, and continues to be used by district leadership teams, board members, teachers, and more.