Senators press DOE for data after hold-harmless and definition changes raise 'cliff' concerns

During the question-and-answer period Senator Lowe framed the central policy tension: changes in how 'economically disadvantaged' students are counted have reduced counts in many districts and the committee has relied on several temporary "bridge" provisions in recent years. "Economically disadvantaged is obviously the big elephant in the room right now," Senator Lowe said, asking the department for a comparison of prior definitions and the current direct-certification approach and for district-level impacts.

Mary Ann Dursky explained the state moved from indicators such as free and reduced-price lunch forms to direct certification via SNAP, TANF and other categorical eligibility groups, and she noted a USDA pilot added Medicaid-free/Medicaid-reduced codes for school nutrition eligibility that have not yet been incorporated into the state's funding definition. Senators asked for a longer-term plan and for precise counts of which students and districts are affected; Senator Lowe pressed for analysis showing how a phased step-down could be implemented rather than an abrupt reduction. Dursky offered to compile the requested district-level analyses and statewide appropriation totals related to the one-year 75% hold-harmless provision enacted last year.