Establish Guidelines for the Process

Before launching, SPB Sponsors learn about their role in the SPB process, explore available resources, and plan for process implementation for the year ahead. To design key guidelines for the process, consider questions such as:

• How can SPB Sponsors select a diverse group of students to participate on the steering committee?
• How many people can serve on the Steering Committee?
• Who can submit ideas?
• Who will vote to implement projects?
• What can and cannot be purchased with SPB money? What types of projects do we want to fund (i.e., capital infrastructure, services, programs)?
• Who will be supporting our school throughout the process (i.e., district and school administrators, SPB Advisors, etc.)? How can I be sure to communicate early and often with any questions or support I may need?

For additional support planning your process, see the SPB Support section.

Assemble a Steering Committee

A steering committee is a group of students that will guide the SPB process from “Idea Collection” to “Implementation.” With the guidance of the SPB Sponsor, they will:

• Gather ideas from fellow students
• Group and prioritize ideas
• Develop project proposals and receive approval of projects for the ballot
• Create and execute a campaign plan
• Design and host opportunities for deliberation
• Coordinate a school-wide vote
• Support project implementation with SPB Sponsors

Tips for Assembling a Steering Committee:

SPB Sponsors assemble a steering committee on campus with the help of SPB Coordinators, Advisors, and school and district leaders. Here are a few tips for creating your campus steering committee:

• Recruit steering committee members from every grade level.
• Recruit a diverse group of students (i.e., a variety of cultures, learning abilities, language backgrounds, etc.).
• Focus on engaging students who may not be involved with other clubs or activities.
• Use the SPB Video when first introducing the concept to potential steering committee students.
• Consider SPB participation as a fulfillment of any community service requirements.
• Gather help from veteran and well-respected teachers.

For general information on the SPB process:

• SPB in Arizona Video
• Student Voices: The Impact of School Participatory Budgeting
• 40 SPB FAQs
• SPB Case Studies 2022
• CFA Website
• SPB Fact Sheet

For materials and resources on designing the SPB process:

• SPB Toolkit for Inclusive Practice
• Steering Committee Design and Recruitment
• SPB AZHSS Standards Map
• SPB Parent Guardian Outreach Example

For high schools implementing SPB, explore how the process can support students in earning the Arizona Department of Education's Seal of Civic Literacy.

For Social Studies lessons and activities to support learning during the SPB process, visit the Content Connections section.