Committee approves $25M in education transfers, $15M targeted to declining enrollment
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Summary
The committee approved a $25 million transfer from education contingency lines, allocating $15 million for declining enrollment funds and $10 million for a merit teacher incentive; Department of Education staff said 152 districts are on the preliminary declining-enrollment list.
The committee approved a $25 million transfer requested by the Department of Education to address school funding needs, directing $15 million to declining enrollment assistance and $10 million to a merit teacher incentive program.
Greg Rogers and Courtney Salas Ford of the Department of Education told the committee that 152 districts are on the preliminary list to receive declining-enrollment funds and explained the statutory allocation method: the department uses a two-year average of average daily membership differences multiplied by the foundation funding rate to determine each district's share. Rogers said the standing appropriation in public school fund was $23,000,000 and that last fiscal year the department spent about $24,000,000 on declining-enrollment funding; this year projections are between $28,000,000 and $30,000,000.
A representative asked how long districts receive declining-enrollment funds; Rogers explained the calculation uses the preceding two-year average and a district could receive the funds each year the decline persists. When asked whether small declines could trigger aid, Rogers confirmed even small changes in average daily membership could qualify under the statutory formula.
After questions, the committee moved and approved the transfer by voice vote. No roll call was recorded.