ASBO New York Partner Frontline (Forecast5) Presents Monthly Data & Analytics Tip

Auto Insights, within our Comparative Analytics tool, is a quick and easy way to identify where your district is spending significantly more than that of your peers. Simply apply a peer group and Auto Insights will generate a table like the one shown below. The table highlights the spending categories with the highest per-student spending gap: difference in spending between the district and its "average peer". The "Cost difference" column shows the potential savings that the district could achieve if the spending could be reduced to match the peers, given the current enrollment.

The trend line shows the spending gap variation over the past 5 years. When applicable, red (or green) colors are used to highlight the categories where the spending gap is showing a consistent and significant trend up (or down) over the entire period. Additional details for each of the highlighted spending categories are also provided within Auto Insights.

The differences in per student spending can be due to intentional investments into certain programs or
activities, or differences in accounting methods. Conversely, some differences may be due to inefficiencies. Identifying the inefficiencies -and adjusting where possible - can free up resources for new initiatives or program expansions. Any analysis like this shouldn’t end here but take you on a journey.  To drill further into certain items identified, consider visiting the Line Item Spending Comparison visual in Comparative Analytics.

Auto Insights can help answer important questions like:

• What areas are we investing more in than our peers and is this in line with the district’s needs and
  goals?
• Is the difference due to coding or is there a potential opportunity to reduce expenditures in certain
  areas?
• Is the difference in spending a 1-year anomaly or is it part of a larger, multi-year trend?

Frontline (Forecast5) Resource: Comparative Analytics (5Sight)

For more information, please contact Brett Williams, bwilliams@frontlineed.com, 315.978.6010