Presentation Transcript

1. Superintendent Legislative Update

   April 15th 2013
2. Overview by Chamber The House Education Finance bill provides a $550 million increase for education over the FY14-15 biennium. Key elements of the plan include a 2% per year formula increase, funding for all-day kindergarten, early learning scholarships, and integration revenue. The Senate Education Finance bill provides a $486 million funding increase over the FY14-15 biennium. Key elements of the Senate plan include funding for all-day kindergarten, a 1% per pupil formula increase, partial reinstatement of the general education levy, reinstatement of integration aid, and $150 million in property tax relief.
3. Basic Formula Increase House: Increases the formula allowance 2% per year -- $104 per pupil in FY14 and an additional $105 per pupil in FY2015. ($315 million for the biennium) Senate: Increases the formula allowance 1% in FY14 -- $52 per pupil (1%). No increase in FY15.
4. All Day Kindergarten House: Funds all-day kindergarten, beginning FY15, by increasing the kindergarten pupil rate from .612 to 1.0 pupil units for each full-time kindergarten pupil. Continues to fund half-day kindergarten students at .612 pupil units. Senate: Funds all-day kindergarten, beginning FY15, by increasing the kindergarten pupil rate from .612 to 1.0 pupil units for each full-time kindergarten pupil. Funds half-day kindergarten students at .55 pupil units. Allows a school district to use funding to meet the needs of three-four year olds in the district.
5. Early learning scholarships House: Provides funding for early learning scholarships for families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Families can use scholarships in a school-based early learning program, Head Start program or licensed childcare setting. (Appropriates $50 million in FY14-15; $120 million in FY16-17) Senate: Provides funding for early learning scholarships for families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Families can use scholarships in a school-based early learning program, Head Start program or licensed childcare setting. (Appropriates $50 million in FY14-15; $50 million in FY16-17)
6. Referendum renewal House: No change to current law. Senate: Metro school boards with an approved a referendum allowance of at least $400 for 10 years may reauthorize any expiring referendum authority equal to $400 by board vote. Metro school boards with an approved a referendum allowance of less than $400 for 10 years may reauthorize any expiring referendum authority equal to $400 by board vote. Regional Center school boards could renew up to $200 of an existing referendum by a majority vote of the school board.
7. Strategic Plan House: Directs school boards to develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term strategic education and budget plan for student achievement. Plan must include formative assessment practices and other instructional best practices that inform interventions, improve student achievement, reduce disparities in students’ academic performance, and foster students’ career and college readiness. Allows the Commissioner to reduce the district’s basic general education revenue by up to 4% per year, and transfer that amount to the affected regional center of excellence for the center to use to assist the district to achieve its achievement goals. Senate: No comparable provision.
8. Budgeting Process House: Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, a school board must hold an annual hearing by March 1 to report its progress in realizing its student achievement goals. Requires the board to provide the public with at least three years of longitudinal data demonstrating district and school progress in realizing its student achievement goals. Requires the board to provide a 30-day notice of the hearing on the district Web site. Requires the board to submit its strategic education and budget plan for student achievement in an electronic format to the commissioner and its regional center of excellence by March 1. Senate: No comparable provision.
9. Labor Day Start House: Allows school districts to begin the school year before Labor Day but prohibits holding school on the Thursday and Friday immediately before Labor Day. Senate: No change to current law.
10. Teacher Evaluation House: Allows districts to use the 2 % set aside for staff development for teacher evaluation, among other purposes. Does not appropriate additional revenue to meet mandate in the law. Senate: No comparable provision.
11. Basic Skills Revenue House: Allows basic skills revenue to be used for programs designed to prepare children for entry into school including early education programs, parent-training programs, school readiness programs, early kindergarten programs for four-year olds, and voluntary home visits and other outreach efforts. Authorizes a district to spend up to 5% of total compensatory revenue on early education programs. Adds this authority to the board’s authority to spend 5% of total compensatory revenue at sites at its discretion (the remaining 90% of compensatory revenue must be spent at the site where the revenue is generated). Senate: Same.
12. Fund Transfers House: Authorizes a school district, upon approval of the commissioner, to transfer money from any fund or account to any other fund or account unless that transfer would have an impact on state aids or local levies. Prohibits transfers from the community service fund, food service fund, or the reserved account for staff development revenue. Effective FY14 and FY15 only. Senate: No change to current law.