Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter School Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee passes bill allocating proportional central-office funding to charter schools
Summary
Senate File 73, advancing Feb. 12, reallocates portions of district central-office personnel and non-personnel expenses to charter schools on a proportional basis. Supporters described the measure as remedying funding inequities for state-authorized charter schools; some district officials urged an interim study to avoid creating new inequities.
The House Education Committee voted Feb. 12 to pass Senate File 73, a bill to allocate a proportional share of district central-office personnel and non-personnel expenses to charter schools.
Senator Bridal, presenting the bill, said the measure allocates school district central-office non-personal expenses and central-office personnel to public charter schools on a proportional basis tied to average daily membership (ADM). “All we’re doing on this part is taking a percentage of that ADM for the students in the public charter schools and saying that the public charter schools get that percentage that they're generating,” Bridal said.
Senator Brennan and other committee members and witnesses explained the bill applies differently to state-authorized charter schools and district-authorized charter schools. State-authorized charter schools would automatically receive the proportional share. District-authorized charter schools retain whatever contract terms they have with their authorizer until renegotiation.
The bill defines a central-office non-personnel amount of $451.70 per ADM to be considered in the proportional calculation; proponents said that covers consumable supplies and similar items. Christian Winger, chief executive officer of Prairie View Community School, said his school, a state-authorized charter in Platte County, receives none of the block-grant funds generated by its students under current practice and supports the change. "This is a fix for that," Winger said.
District officials and associations urged caution. Matt Flett, chief financial officer for Natrona County School District, said the proposed percentage-by-ADM approach could shift inequities rather than resolve them and suggested the issue be studied in the interim. Boyd Brown, executive director of the Wyoming Association of School Administrators, likewise recommended recalibration and an interim review and suggested a sunset provision could make the change more palatable.
Vice Chair Lolli moved the bill out of committee; the motion was seconded and the committee approved Senate File 73. The roll call recorded nine ayes and no recorded no votes. Committee members and witnesses indicated interest in addressing remaining technical issues during recalibration or an interim study.
