Bill Text: HI SB2680 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Education Funding.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-15 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2680 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2680-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2680 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION FUNDING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Reinventing Education Act of 2004 (Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004) established a weighted student formula to allocate moneys to schools according to the different costs of educating students with different needs.
The legislature further finds that despite the intended equitable distribution of funds, the weighted student formula has placed small and remote schools at a disadvantage. In the case of the Hāna high and elementary school, the budgetary shortfall has resulted in the loss of several well-qualified teachers and has threatened the school's ability to offer minimum course requirements for students to earn high school diplomas. As of 2005, six schools were excepted from weighted student formula allocations.
The legislature additionally finds that small and remote schools should be adequately funded to retain the minimum personnel and resources necessary to deliver quality education to students.
The purpose of this Act is to improve fiscal equity for small and remote schools by requiring the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study on the impact of the weighted student formula on small and remote schools.
SECTION 2. (a) The legislative reference bureau shall conduct a study on the impact of the weighted student formula on small and remote schools to determine whether the formula fulfills its statutory purpose of equalizing operational funding among the State's public schools. The study shall:
(1) Include all per pupil funds distributed in accordance with weighted student formula calculations;
(2) Describe any general fund cost categories not considered in the determination of weighted student formula funding for small and remote schools;
(3) Describe any inequities or negative consequences of weighted student formula funding for small and remote schools; and
(4) Include any other relevant fiscal information.
(b) For the purposes of this study, a "small or remote school" shall mean a public school, except for a public school governed by chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that is:
(1) Located at least a one-hour drive away from the nearest public high school;
(2) Located on the islands of Lanai, Molokai, or Niihau;
(3) An elementary school with a student enrollment of less than two hundred students; or
(4) A secondary school with a student enrollment of less than four hundred students.
(c) The department of education shall provide specific data to the legislative reference bureau by June 30, 2018, in a format to be determined by the legislative reference bureau, detailing present weighted student formula funding amounts and calculations, to enable the bureau to focus its study and complete it in a timely manner.
(d) The department of education and department of budget and finance shall provide other information and assistance as requested by the legislative reference bureau.
(e) The legislative reference bureau shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Weighted Student Formula; Remote Schools; Hāna High and Elementary School; Education Funding; Study; Legislative Reference Bureau
Description:
Requires the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study on the impact of the weighted student formula on small and remote schools to determine whether the formula fulfills its statutory purpose of equalizing operational funding among the State's public schools.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
