Senate panel hears bill to put per-pupil cost and test scores on school budget ballots

At a Senate Funding Committee hearing, Representative Ross Barry introduced House Bill 557, which would require ballots that contain a school budget question to include the district—s average cost per pupil and the previous year—s proficiency percentages in English language arts, math and science immediately before the budget question.

Barry, a Representative from Hillsborough District 44, said the change is intended to give voters a clearer data point when deciding on budgets that make up a large share of property taxes. "I think voters should have this information," Barry said, adding that some districts— per-pupil cost figures can surprise voters.

Supporters and opponents framed the bill as a transparency measure versus a potential source of confusion. "These are kind of cold, hard numbers that the Department of Education collects. It is actually available publicly," Barry said. Representative Glenn Cordelli, chair of the House Education Policy Administration Committee, testified…