Committee hears foundation-opportunity budget model (HB772) and broader funding proposals including special‑education changes

The House education committee spent the afternoon reviewing HB772, a comprehensive “foundation opportunity budget” bill, alongside bills that would raise the defined base adequacy and change the statewide education property tax (e.g., HB675). Sponsors and staff described how HB772 would calculate a district‑level budget, then fund it with a mix of a local contribution and a state grant.

How the model works: Representative Ladd and other sponsors explained the framework: the department would calculate a foundation opportunity budget for each district using a base per‑student amount and weighted counts for student characteristics (for example, weights for special education, free and reduced‑price eligibility, English‑language learners and district size).…