2013-2014 Board of Education Proposed Budget Book

SOUTH WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2013-2014 Board of Education Budget (PROPOSED)
GLOSSARY
DRGs: Since 1996, the Connecticut State Department of Education has divided school districts into nine groups initially called
Educational Reference Groups. These nine groups are determined according to socio-economic status and other factors. In 2006, the
nine groups, labeled A through I, were reclassified District Reference Groups (DRGs) using updated data but the same formula. Seven
data indicators are used to classify similar districts into a DRG: three indicators of socioeconomic status (median family income,
parental education, and parental occupation), three indicators of need (percentage of children living in families with a single parent,
the percentage of public school children eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals, and percentage of children whose families
speak a language other than English at home) and enrollment (the number of students attending schools in that district).
ED001: End of Year School Financial Report. The annual report to the state of school expenditures and other statistics. Required to
be filed by September 1 st by every Connecticut public school district. The report serves as the primary source of financial information
on education in the state. The data is used in providing statistical information to local, state and federal decision-makers.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA): ESEA, which was first enacted in 1965, is the principal federal law affecting
K-12 education. The No Child Left Behind Act is the most recent reauthorization of the ESEA.
Encumbrance: A dedicated amount of budget money designated for a particular use usually by the issuance of a purchase order.
Encumbered funds are unavailable for other use until the funds are expended or liquidated.
EXCEL: An educational program that addresses the needs of gifted and talented students.
Expenditures: This includes total charges incurred, whether paid or unpaid for current costs, capital outlay, and debt service.
Fiduciary Funds: Funds used to account for activities in which a government acts as a trustee or agent for resources that belong to
others, such as employee pension plans. These resources do not belong to the government and are not available for use.
Fiscal Year: The period covered by an entity’s financial statements. For Connecticut public school districts, this is July 1 st through
June 30 th .
Fund: A sum of money or other resources set-aside for specific activities of a school district. The fund accounts constitute a complete
entity, and all financial transactions are recorded in them.
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