Senate advances substitute to change school funding distribution to current‑year enrollment

Senator Fillmore presented a second substitute to Senate Bill 62 that would move the distribution formula for school funding from a prior‑year average model to current‑year enrollment measured on Oct. 1. The second substitute identifies where resulting savings would be reinvested — chiefly to increase funding for self‑contained special education students and to support the at‑risk add‑on increment.

"We would just be changing the way that funding is distributed to LEAs to ensure that we are funding the needs of the current students where they actually are," Fillmore said, arguing the substitute is fiscally neutral because total public-education dollars would remain in the system and be redistributed to meet current needs.

Senators asked whether the change would revive concerns about double‑funding or year‑to‑year gaming of enrollment counts. Sponsor noted prior debates over measurement dates (Oct. 1) and said the current‑year measurement already exists in statute; the substitute would shift distribution mechanics while keeping total funding stable. After discussion, the Senate adopted the substitute for third-reading scheduling by roll call.