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Senate education committee sends bill to clarify rural school funding formula
Summary
The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously to send House Bill 396, which refines eligibility and scale provisions for the state’s rural-school funding formula, to the full Senate after rural superintendents and the State Board of Education backed the changes.
A Senate committee on an unanimous voice vote advanced House Bill 396, a measure that defines eligibility and adjusts how the state supports small, rural school districts.
The bill clarifies the existing NES rural-school funding formula and creates two funding tracks keyed to district population, sponsor Kobe Willis, superintendent of Piute County School District, told the committee. “This bill addresses the NES formula, which is the formula to fund rural school districts,” Willis said, saying the measure “provides a clear definition of what qualifies and what does not.”
Why it matters: supporters said the current formula produces inconsistent results and perverse incentives for small districts. Willis described a case in which “one county consolidated two schools, and they lost $500,000 as a result,” and another where a school shifted a grade to gain funding. Willis said the bill also builds a mechanism for schools to “gradually transition off the formula” as enrollment grows.
State Board of Education members publicly backed the measure. Molly Hart, vice chair of the State Board of Education, said the board was involved from the start and made a unanimous recommendation in committee; she urged the senators to vote yes. Jenny Earl, a State Board member, said the work this interim created a “framework so they know how to move forward,” and added, “I support this bill.”
Senator Reby moved to send HB 396 with a favorable recommendation; the committee chair called the motion and “the chair rules that (it is) unanimous.” The motion passed and the bill will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.
Supporters said the bill reduces subjectivity in eligibility, accounts for economies of scale and geography, and returns final funding responsibility to the Legislature rather than leaving it to the State Board. The sponsor and rural superintendents emphasized the practice of using one-time funds for recurring rural expenses has left districts fiscally vulnerable.
The committee did not record any amendments or a roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair characterized the approval as unanimous.
The bill now moves to the next Senate floor step where senators will have the opportunity to debate and vote on the measure.
