Return on Investment (ROI) Process

Overview

Each year, Dallas ISD gathers data on the impact and reach of over 70 of the district’s programmatic and instructional initiatives. We use this data to foster continuous improvement, refine district strategy, and ultimately inform budget decisions.

Dallas ISD’s Definition of Return on Investment

Dallas ISD assesses ROI by gathering a variety of metrics on our strategic initiatives that show whether they are producing the results they were designed to achieve. This approach differs from traditional ROI methods in education, which typically rely on complex calculations applied to a narrow set of initiatives where causal impact can be attributed. By collecting data on a broad set of initiatives, we can assess how effectively we are implementing district strategy and adjust accordingly. 

Data Collected

For each initiative, we generate standardized data on the cost per student, the number of FTE associated with it, and the demographic makeup of students being served. This information helps us understand both the efficiency of each initiative and how it is reaching students across the district. We also collect initiative-specific input and output metrics to assess progress toward improved student outcomes.

Timeline

The ROI process occurs annually. In the summer, the initiatives for the upcoming year are selected. At the beginning of the school year, the Evaluation and Assessment and Finance teams engage with initiative owners to reflect on purpose, plan of action, and collect data on progress. They then compile this data for the budget process kickoff in November. Throughout the budget cycle, the budget team, cabinet, and board of trustees review this data when making budget decisions. This data is then reported along with the budget under constraint progress measure 3.2.

Learn more about Dallas ISD’s ROI Process:

• ROI Process Guidebook
• ROI Process Objectives
• List of Initiatives at a Glance (2024-25)
• Initiative-Specific Google Sheets