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| SPONSOR: | Picraux | DATE TYPED: | 03/14/01 | HB | 49/aHAFC | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Change At-Risk Index Calculation | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Segura | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
| Recurring | General Fund | ||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
State Department of Education SDE
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HAFC Amendment
House Appropriations and Finance Committee has amended House Bill 49. The amendment to the bill removes the appropriation because the funds needed to cover the cost of the units generated are included in CS/HB-2 et al.
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 49 amends Section 22-8-23.3 of the Public School Finance Act to change the method of calculating the at-risk index for determining additional at-risk program units. The bill also appropriates $3,000.0 to the State Department of Education for FY2002 to fund at-risk programs in public schools statewide.
Significant Issues
According to SDE, the lack of stability in the current method of calculating the at-risk index has had an adverse effect on some school districts, which has resulted in the curtailment or termination of some at-risk programs. Under the current methodology this instability is likely to continue until all districts are in compliance with federal procedures for identifying limited English proficiency students. The methodology retains the advantages of the current methodology in that it does not require the identification of students to receive funds ( avoiding the charge of "formula chasing") and it provides school districts with maximum flexibility in the design and delivery of programs for at-risk youth.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
House Bill 49 appropriates $3,000.0 from the general fund. The amount is based on 2000-2001 budgeted membership, at-risk program units and unit value.
CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP
The bill relates to an line item contained in the Public School Support recommendations by the LFC, LESC, State Board of Education and Executive.
RS/ar/njw