Why Play Budget Hold’em?

The current moment is one of incredible urgency, with pervasive and increasing needs around student engagement, social-emotional learning, equity, and teacher support. Despite its challenges, the current moment also offers unprecedented opportunity for today’s district leaders and educators. Moving to new ways of “doing” school can’t happen at scale for all children without leaders tackling the underlying structures that drive how school happens at the system level.  

Our three editions of Hold’em guide players through a unique learning experience that enable them to imagine systemic change through a specific lens. Each card was developed using real district data and scenarios based on our 20+ years working with districts nationwide. Grapple with resource tradeoffs, align strategy to research-based investments and savings, and get inspired by what change is possible. We suggest purchasing one card deck per group of 4-5 players.

Purchase Hold’em Game Materials

Budget Hold’em for Districts Game Card Decks

The original Budget Hold’em for Districts game that started it all! You’ll explore a wide variety of options that balance investments and savings with a focus on the real bottom line—student performance. Boxed sets include a 37-card deck and an instruction booklet.

Planning on playing Hold’em with a larger team? Add a group play guide! You’ll receive group play instructions, custom playing priorities, a scoresheet, a wild card bundle, and additional resources.

Teaching Job Budget Hold’em for Districts Game Card Decks

Designed for leaders interested in improving the teaching job, this Hold’em deck has investment and savings cards in five key areas that impact the teaching role—including compensation models, teaming structures, and class sizes. Boxed sets include a 34-card deck and an instruction booklet.

Budget Hold’em for Elementary Schools Card Decks

In Budget Hold’em for Elementary Schools, you’ll explore key instructional strategies for accelerating early learning in high-priority areas like math and ELA. Boxed sets include a 28-card deck and an instruction booklet.

Budget Hold’em for High Schools Card Decks

In Budget Hold’em for High Schools, you’ll consider shifts to resources—such as academic advising, scheduling, and instructional time and attention—that help prepare students for their post-graduation steps. Boxed sets include a 36-card deck and an instruction booklet.

Custom Hold’em Workshop with ERS Facilitators

Over the last decade, budget experts from Education Resource Strategies have facilitated over a hundred Budget Hold’em sessions across the country. We’ll bring our decades of experience working in school systems across the country while you learn new ways of thinking about budgeting, center your district’s or school’s core strategies, and examine what priorities are most important to your team—all through an engaging gamified workshop.

Learn more about our Budget Hold’em Workshops or use the form below to send an inquiry message to our team.