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State funding changes could cut Gateway SD’s cyber-charter special-education costs by roughly $12,000 per pupil
Summary
Board staff told the Gateway School District board that recent state funding changes and a Ready to Learn grant could boost district revenue and reduce the district's per-student special-education payment to cyber-charter schools from about $42,184 to roughly $29,000, with retroactive credits possible once the state finalizes numbers.
Board members were briefed on recent state budget developments that staff said will increase several funding streams for Gateway School District and reduce certain charter-school costs.
"Basic ed funding is gonna increase probably around a 100,000," Mike told the board as he reviewed preliminary numbers, and he said special-education funding would rise by about $98,000. Staff also reported an additional $50,000 was added to the Ready to Learn block grant, increasing it from about $385,000 to roughly $435,000.
Mike described a larger effect from charter-school reform: "what's gonna come down to our special ed kit cost right now for Gateway student for this school year, it's 42,184. It's gonna come down to around, 29,000. So that's savings a little over 12,000 per kid," he said. Staff noted the change applies going forward and that the state must still finalize calculations.
Board members and staff cautioned that the numbers are preliminary. Staff said the figures must go through the state comptroller and that the district is currently paying cyber-charter invoices at higher rates; once the state reconciles the data, the district expects credits to be issued retroactively. One staff member estimated credits could be processed in "4 to 6 weeks," and that retroactivity would apply to the start of the school year.
The board discussed timing concerns: because the district adopted its current budget several months ago, the new funding formula may not affect the present-year budget until accounting adjustments are completed. Staff emphasized these are estimates and additional number-crunching remains before amounts are final.
Next steps: staff will monitor final comptroller calculations and return with reconciled figures and planned accounting entries to reflect any retroactive credits.
