Twin Rivers Unified School District

Strategic School Funding for Results (SSFR)

Administrator, Special Projects: Mahala R. Archer

  • (916) 566-1600 ext. 50906
  • 5115 Dudley Blvd,
    McClellan, CA, 95652

TRUSD Highlighted for Equitable Funding Practices

One of the core concepts behind the Strategic School Funding for Results initiative is a belief that matching resources to student needs is a key lever for increasing student achievement.  On October 25, Education Trust-West released a report that "Exposes Stark School Funding Gaps in California's Largest Districts; Calls for School Funding Equity and Transparency."  In this report, the SSFR initiative in Twin Rivers is lauded as an example of best practice and a recommendation to the state of California policy makers in discussions of school finance reform.

For more information on Ed Trust-West or to access the report please click on the following links:

Project Goals

With the ultimate goal of improving the level and distribution of student learning opportunities, the Strategic School Funding for Results (SSFR) project is designed to:

  • develop and implement more equitable and transparent strategies for allocating resources within each district; 
  • link those strategies to policies and processes designed to encourage innovation, efficiencyand teacher effectiveness; and 
  • strengthen accountability for improving student outcomes.  

Theory of Action

The theory of action underlying the project encompasses the following three elements: a culture of innovation and efficiency, increased transparency, and resource equity.

A culture of innovation and efficiency can be achieved by:

  • increasing school autonomy linked with accountability for results;
  • creating appropriate incentives for improving the performance of principals, teachers, and other school faculty;
  • ensuring access to a wide range of educational choices by families and children; and
  • providing school leaders with the opportunity to select and purchase various support services from the central office.

Increased transparency can be achieved by:

  • simplifying and clarifying the processes by which resources are allocated to schools; and
  • increasing the participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the design of these processes.

Equity can be improved by:

  • allocating dollars to schools based on student needs; and
  • allowing school sites more control over matching programs with community priorities.


The results of this evaluation will provide information to help federal, state, and local policymakers in their consideration of policies that will improve learning opportunities for all children.

Other Equitable Funding Initiatives

Who else is implementing reforms like SSFR?

For Information about SSFR at our partner district, click here: Los Angeles Unified School District

Other Districts: 

There are many other districts across the country that have embraced this type of reform and are referenced in the Weighted Student Funding Yearbook

This department's page is maintained by Charlene VanAllen