HB 2776 -- Phasing in a new funding model First step in implementing plan laid out in 2009
BACKGROUND: 2261 redefined basic ed to include more of the instructional costs that districts were covering (such as for all-day kindergarten, smaller class sizes and a sixth period in high school) and called for prototypical funding models and better finance data collection to better predict and track costs associated with transportation, utilities, textbooks -- all the non-staff costs associated with schools. State allotment for these costs wasn't keeping up with actual expenditures. 2261 declared the state's intent, set up work groups to iron out details, and set up the Quality Education Council to recommend an implementation schedule and provide ongoing review. The funding plan is to be phased in by 2018.
2776 is a rollout bill. It spells out the state's initial steps to fully fund basic education. Funding increases are slated to begin in the 2011-13 biennium. 2776 contains the following:
Prototypical school funding model: New, much more transparent funding formula. This tells taxpayers what the state is budgeting for. For instance, librarians, counselors, books and supplies, as well as the number of classroom teachers. These will be implemented at current funding levels (as opposed to what ideally the state would cover).
Internet budget tool: The state superintendent is charged with implementing and maintaining an Internet portal that lets citizens look up individual schools and see what prototypical funding would cover and how that compares with district decisions.
All-day K: Phase in to continue in 2011-2013 until full phase-in is achieved in 2017-18.
Smaller K-3 class sizes: Phase in starting with schools with the highest number of free and reduced price lunch meals, until class sizes reach 17, beginning in the 2011-13 biennium.
Transportation funding: Phase in of new model will begin in 2011-13 and be fully implemented by the 2013-15 biennium.
Money for non-staff costs: Enhanced funding for utilities, maintenance and operations costs, which should be closer to actual costs, begins in 2015-16. After that adjustments will be based on inflation.
Local levy work group: To begin April 1, 2010. Its report to the legislature is due June 30, 2011. This group is to develop options for a new system of supplemental funding through local school levies and local effort assistance. It has also been charged to address facility needs associated with the phase-in of all day K and the reduction of class sizes in K-3.
Teacher Compensation work group: To begin July 2011 and make an initial report to the legislature June 30, 2012. The purpose is to recommend the details of an enhanced teacher salary allocation model that aligns state expectations for educator development and certification with the compensation system.
Achievement gap: A member of the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee has been added to the Quality Education Council and a focus around the achievement gap is added to the QEC charge.
What's not included:
"Meaningful high school diploma," or Core 24, is not mentioned in 2776, nor are increased instructional hours (that is, more class periods) for middle and high school students. Those costs will continue to fall to local levies unless phased in with future legislation.
Extended learning funds. I-728 paid for smaller class sizes as well as programs that helped students meet state standards, mainly by paying for extended learning -- i.e. preschool, all-day K, extended day, and summer school. While smaller class sizes for K-3 and all-day K are scheduled for phase in, other costs associated with supplemental learning are not. These enhancement costs will fall to local levies unless phased in with future legislation.
