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Committee introduces bill to convert discretionary school funding to per-pupil model
Summary
The Ways and Means Committee introduced RS32448, a bill that would convert a discretionary funding component into a per-pupil amount and phase in a weighted per-student funding formula, with a fiscal note of $14.2 million targeted to small and rural districts.
Wendy Horman, a state representative from District 32, told the Ways and Means Committee that RS32448 would “begin to modernize our public school funding formula, which is now over 3 decades old.” The bill converts a discretionary amount of funding to a per-pupil amount and provides an exception for small rural districts in the first year.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Horman, said the measure also “calls for moving to a weighted per student funding formula next year.” She told the committee the fiscal note is $14,200,000 and that “all of that money will go to small and rural districts to make sure they receive the enhancements they currently receive under the existing funding formula.”
Committee members thanked the sponsor and placed the bill for introduction. Representative Crane, who served on the interim funding-formula committee, moved to introduce RS32448 and said the bill “makes this simple and easy to understand for everybody.” Representative Birch asked how charter schools would be affected; Horman replied it affects “the same way it affects any other school of that same size.” Representative Birch also asked for the definition of “small” and Horman said the bill “does not change the existing funding formula” and offered to walk members through the ratios later.
The motion to introduce RS32448 passed by voice vote.
The bill was introduced for further consideration; no final funding changes or enactment occurred during this meeting.
