Bill Text: HI HB2656 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Weighted Student Formula; Remote Schools; Public Schools; Funding
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-01 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 5 [HB2656 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2656-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2656 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to education.
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. Despite the intended equitable distribution of funds, the legislature finds that the weighted student formula has placed small, remote schools at a disadvantage. In the case of Lanai high and elementary school, students have no public school alternative on-island. Therefore, the school must have all the resources necessary to meet the various needs of students. It must also have the staff necessary to regularly offer courses required for graduation while providing adequate elective courses to students. Balancing such demands with a staff of fewer than fifty full-time teachers, across all grades can be difficult.
The legislature further finds that despite the current economic situation, remote schools should be funded to retain the minimal personnel and resources necessary to graduate students. Remote schools are more appropriately funded through categorical allotments that guarantee the minimum number of positions and amount of resources to ensure that school operations can continue.
The purpose of this Act is to require that funding allocations for remote schools be determined by categorical allotments rather than the weighted student formula.
SECTION 2. Section 302A-1303.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§302A-1303.6 Weighted student
formula. (a) Based upon recommendations from the committee on
weights, the board of education may adopt a weighted student formula for the
allocation of moneys to public schools that takes into account the educational
needs of each student. The department, upon the receipt of appropriated
moneys, shall use the weighted student formula to allocate funds to public
schools[.]; provided that a remote school, as defined in subsection
(b), and other schools designated by the committee on weights shall not be
allocated operating funds using the weighted student formula and shall instead
be allocated operating funds by categorical allotments that guarantee the
funding of a minimum number of instructional positions to ensure that at least
minimum course requirements are maintained. Principals shall expend moneys
provided to the principals' schools. This section shall only apply to charter
schools for fiscal years in which the charter schools elect pursuant to section
302D-29 to receive allocations according to the procedures and methodology used
to calculate the weighted student formula allocation.
(b) For purposes of this section, "remote school" means any public school, as defined in section 302A-101, excluding charter schools governed by chapter 302D, that is a high school:
(1) Located at least a one-hour drive away from the next nearest public high school; or
(2) Located on the island of Lanai, Molokai, or Niihau;
provided that if a high school is combined with an elementary, middle, intermediate, or other lower level of schooling, that the entire school shall be deemed a high school for the purposes of this subsection."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. 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; Public Schools; Funding
Description:
Requires remote schools to be allocated funds using categorical allotments, rather than through the weighted student formula. Defines a remote school as any public school that is a high school located at least a one-hour drive away from the next nearest high school or a high school located on the island of Lanai, Molokai, or Niihau.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
