Senate Finance hears updated analysis recommending $15,030.33 per‑student foundation; discusses weights for poverty, English learners and special education

At a Senate Finance Committee meeting, Tammy Colby, principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research and research associate professor at the University of Vermont, briefed members on updated estimates for a student‑based “foundation” funding formula and recommended a base (foundation) amount of $15,030.33 in fiscal‑year‑2025 dollars.

Colby told the committee that a foundation—or student‑based—formula would reverse the current process in which districts set budgets first and the state then pays. Instead, she said, the state would “define its financial obligation upfront in terms of a foundation amount and some adjustments” and allocate funds on a per‑student basis so “dollars follow students.” She described the approach as more transparent and stable than the current system.

The memo to lawmakers included cost estimates and suggested cost adjustments (weights). Using the updated data through 2023–24 and inflation‑adjusting to 2024–25 dollars, Colby reported the following figures drawn from her modeling: a base spending amount of $15,030.33; a per‑pupil figure for students identified as economically disadvantaged of about $15,334; and a per‑pupil figure for English learners of about $20,826. Based on those dollar amounts and the chosen base, she said the corresponding weights would be roughly 1.02 for economically disadvantaged students and 1.39 for English learners. She also reported a…