One of the things that has been in the news the most regarding this budget is the investment in K-12 education. But what exactly does this 989 page document say? Here are some of the biggest points:
Overall:
$11.5 billion to public, charter and private schools for the biennium.
Including $649 million in new spending.
In 2018-19:
The state’s share of K-12 funding will rise to 64.6%
State aid is the highest ever in raw dollars.
Revenue limits will remain flat. Aid will come from money that is not tied to the equalized funding formula.
In plain English, this means that money will be put into the public school system but it won’t be distributed the way most state aid is – that is through a formula that takes into account the wealth and size of school in order to distribute the money equally. This is known as equalization aid.
By circumventing the equalization aid formula, the proposed budget dollars for public schools will arrive outside of the revenue limit.Very simply speaking, the revenue limit is a state-imposed cap on the amount of revenue a school district can generate with a combination of local taxes and equalization aid. The budget proposal also freezes the revenue limit at current levels to prevent a property tax increase. The revenue limit formula and equalization aid formula work in combination to balance state support between property wealthy districts and property poor districts.
So the new money going to school districts won’t be messing with the revenue limit. State aid through the funding formula will stay the same as will the local share of school funding.
Instead, school districts will get $509.2 million of this increase in the form of per-pupil aid payments – which are exactly what they sound like. Each school district gets a certain amount of dollars per enrolled student, and this number goes up and down with each budget.
The last budget set that number at $250 per student.
In the first year of the new budget (2017-18) it would be increased by $200.
In the second year (2018-19) it would be increased by $250.
By further expanding the use of per pupil funding for public education, the state is unraveling the equalization aid formula and will further expand the gap between rich school districts and poor school districts.
But with all these numbers, here is the most important takeaway: the budget proposal is fluid. What was introduced by the Governor and what is passed by the legislature often look very different.
Here are some more highlights:
Voucher and Charter Schools
Increases per pupil funding by $217 per year.
Eliminates the requirement that schools in the program meet certain requirements for student advancement, attendance etc.
Eliminates the requirement that virtual charter schools ensure teachers are available minimum number of hours.
Teacher and Administrator Licensure Changes
Allows post-secondary faculty to teach in high schools without a teaching license.
As long as they are faculty in good standing with their employing institution and have a bachelor’s degree.
Repeals the requirement that teaching and administrator licenses be perpetual.
Other than in cases of misconduct.
Sparsity Aid
Funding for rural school districts that are sparsely populated (745 students).
Increases the per-pupil reimbursement rate to $400 per pupil (current is $300).
Creates a new tier of sparsely populated districts (746 – 1000 students) with reimbursement rate of $100 per pupil.
Transportation Aid
Increase funding for school districts with high transportation costs that meet certain density requirements.
Mandates on School Boards
Repeals the mandate on the minimum hours of instruction at public schools.
Repeals the mandate on required monthly school board meetings and the hour and date of those meetings.
Repeals the mandate limiting school administrators’ contract terms to two years.
Repeals the requirement to purchase recycled and recyclable products.
Allows multiple school districts to enter into agreements to share or jointly provide the following services or specialists:
Reading specialist
Bilingual-Bicultural Education Programs
Lifesaving Skill Instruction
Emergency Nursing Services
Attendance Officer
Guidance and Counseling
Technical Preparation Programs
Services for Gifted and Talented Pupils
Over the past few weeks, I have been meeting with our local school boards to discuss these proposals and learn how they will affect our local school districts. We still have a lot of work ahead of us before the Joint Finance Committee begins their briefings in late March.
If you have any questions on the budget or want to learn more about what is going on, please feel free to keep in touch with me. Consider my office to be a resource for you on this budget and on any other legislative issues.
Until next time,
Steve
STEVE DOYLE State Representative 94th Assembly District
| State Rep. Steve Doyle - PO BOX 8952, Madison 53708 |
