Senate education panel approves $23 million in Education Excellence Fund plans; committee notes broader $72 million balance

The Senate Education Committee on March 18 approved the Department of Education's recommended allocation of Education Excellence Fund (EEF) monies, voting to advance plans that total about $23 million for the current year while discussing a much larger pool of available funds.

The vote followed a presentation by Beth, CNO with the Department of Education, who briefed lawmakers on the EEF distribution process under state law (RS 17' 3805) and the makeup of the fund. The department presented that this year's requests approved through its review process total a little over $23 million and that the larger fund includes recent appropriations, carryover balances and investment accounts managed by the state treasury.

Committee members heard the department's breakdown of the money scheduled for spending this year and the broader balances behind it. Beth said the fund originates from tobacco-settlement investment proceeds (the Millennium Fund) and is distributed under state law that directs 85% of yearly allocations to city, parish and charter school systems and 15% to nonpublic schools. The department told the committee the year's new appropriation was about $11.6 million. Department staff said school systems and charters held roughly $26 million in approved carryover plans, about $27 million remained in individual investment accounts managed by the treasury, and districts reported about $7.4 million in 'cash on hand.'

The department also described the composition of approved plans. Committee materials and the presenter showed instruction-related requests totaling about $15 million, early childhood requests of roughly $3.6 million, and a category of other approved educational programs at about $4.3 million'figures that together make up the approved plans presented to the committee.

Lawmakers asked how the fund is overseen and how carryover and 'cash-on-hand' balances are reported back to the department. Beth explained that districts submit spending plans for department review; carryover balances remain available for future approved projects and districts report subsequent-year changes so the department can monitor usage.

After the presentation, Senator Mizell moved to advance the department's allocations. The committee chair, Senator Edmonds, called for objections; none were raised and the motion passed by voice vote with no objections recorded.

Committee members said they would request additional detail on early childhood seat counts and the per-pupil allocation methodology ahead of the legislative session.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve the Education Excellence Fund allocations and related department-approved plans (motion moved by Senator Mizell) was advanced by the committee by voice vote with no objections recorded.

The committee briefly approved the minutes from its November meeting and adjourned after additional agenda items.

Ending: Members asked the department for follow-up material, including a district-by-district per-pupil breakdown and an itemized early childhood-seat report, and indicated they would revisit questions about carryover and investment balances during the session.