Budget Hold'em Facilitator Guides

These instructions will help leaders organize and play Budget Hold'em.

Use the Budget Hold'em for Districts Facilitator's Guide to play the in-person version of the game, using decks of card you can purchase here. (Try the new and improved online version here!). The guide provides three approaches to playing the game with a group, which are based on your goals and available time.

Options include:

• A cabinet exercise to build common understanding of the opportunities and possibilities
• A budget exercise to involve the broader district team to build buy-in and to make the best strategic trade-off decisions
• A board or public stakeholder exercise to generate understanding of the cost and trade-offs inherent in choosing certain investment options

The Budget Hold'em-California Facilitator's Guide describes how this online version of the game (try it here) has been tailored to districts in California, which recently implemented the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), and it also offers tips and discussion topics to consider.

Budget Hold'em for Districts: Facilitator's Guide (PDF)

Budget Hold'em-California Facilitator's Guide (PDF)