What is PB?

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend a part of a public budget. In this case, the community members are students— even families, teachers, and staff—and the budget is the school budget. Students collect ideas about the school’s needs, develop project proposals, and vote on projects to fund.

PB is a process the local and state governments have used since its first inception in Brazil in 1989.

Learn more about the community and their wants and needs.

Foster a greater sense of community, belonging, and transparency.

Engage with all school stakeholders, especially those for whom school might not be working.

Be responsive to the needs of a community.