Teaching Your Financial Story 

In the fast-paced world of K-12 education, making sound financial decisions can make or break a district. Yet, financial data is often complex and easy to overlook—until a crisis arises. For district leaders, it’s not just about knowing the numbers; it’s about teaching others what those numbers mean. Financial literacy in K-12 education goes beyond technical skills—it’s the foundation of decision-making that affects students, taxpayers, employees, and the entire community. Effective financial leadership is about teaching your financial story to those who need to hear it. 

Simplify Your Message for Greater Impact 

Like any good teacher, communicating financial concepts is about ensuring others truly understand the message. When your team understands the financial data, they’re more likely to trust the information and use it to make informed, realistic decisions. Just as in the classroom, striking the right balance between too much and too little information is key to successful communication. The graph below clearly conveys the big picture but – the rest of the story is equally as important.

Historical and Projected Operating Fund Balance

Start with the Right Questions

Great teaching begins with asking the right questions, and financial communication is no different. For instance, many K-12 leaders today are grappling with tighter budgets. A key question they’re asking is: Why are our budgets shrinking? Often, the answer lies in the reduction of federal funding. Framing financial discussions around these core questions helps stakeholders focus on the issues that matter most and creates a starting point for understanding.

Guide Your Team to Answer Questions with Data Visuals

In today’s data-driven world, visualization is an essential tool for teaching complex financial concepts. Just as visuals in a classroom help students grasp difficult topics, financial leaders can use visual aids to clarify intricate data for stakeholders. For example, a visual representation of revenue trends, such as the one below, clearly shows a district’s decline in revenue for the current year (2025) and the projected trend going forward. This type of visual answers the question—less revenue leads to a smaller budget—and highlights the primary cause: a decrease in federal funding. It also demonstrates how the district is becoming more reliant on local revenue sources, even as taxpayers face financial strain.

Visual Example: Declining Revenue Leading to Tighter Budgets

When financial leaders teach the connection between cause and effect in their data, they empower their teams to collaborate more effectively in addressing budget challenges. Just as a good lesson fosters understanding, clear financial communication fosters shared responsibility. By helping others understand the story behind the numbers, districts can make smarter decisions that benefit students and stakeholders alike.  

Frontline Analytics is Designed to Help District Leaders Teach Their Financial Story

At Frontline, our Analytics team provides K-12 leaders with software tools that create custom visuals like the one displayed here—all with the ease of a point-and-click interface. These tools make it easier to communicate complex data, helping you teach your financial story with confidence and clarity.

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Ernie Strawser

Ernie Strawser is a Senior Analytics Advisor at Frontline Education, specializing in financial forecasting, data analytics, and strategic planning for school districts. With over three decades of experience, including roles as a school CFO and financial consultant, Ernie provides his district partners with valuable insights to drive effective decision-making and communication. He delivers tailored training, webinars, and software solutions to help educational leaders leverage data for improved outcomes.

Interested in partnering with Ernie? You can reach him here: estrawser@frontlineed.com