Bill Text: HI HCR187 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 187 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: DOE; LRB

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-19 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 40 [HCR187 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HCR187-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	187
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting an impact research study of the effect of the weighted student formula on allocations of appropriated moneys to small public schools.

WHEREAS, moneys appropriated to the Department of Education are allocated to the public schools through the use of a weighted student formula that takes into account the educational needs of each student; and

WHEREAS, the weighted student formula is developed by the Committee on Weights, which is chaired by the Superintendent of Education and is tasked with creating a system of weights based upon student characteristics that may be applied to determine the relative cost of educating any student; and

WHEREAS, the Committee on Weights also determines which moneys shall be included in the amount of funds to be allocated through the weighted student formula; and

WHEREAS, the Committee on Weights typically meets during the spring and summer to develop recommended revisions to the weighted student formula, and these meetings allow the committee members to become familiar with issues such as the student characteristics impacting educational cost and existing types of funds currently used to support student learning; and

WHEREAS, due to the use of the weighted student formula, some schools gain funds and others receive less funds than would otherwise be available through a more traditional allocation methodology; and

WHEREAS, it appears that the use of the weighted student formula may work to the disadvantage of small public schools, which may cover a wider spectrum of school grade levels than the larger schools, whose teachers may teach more than one grade level, and whose administrators may also serve as teachers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct an impact research study of the effect of the student weighted formula on the allocations of appropriated moneys to small public schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the impact research study is requested to address:

(1) Whether the budgetary needs of small public schools are being adequately met through the student weighted formula; and

(2) Whether the budgetary needs of small public schools would be better served through the use of a different allocation methodology; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Superintendent of Education, and the Chairperson of the Board of Education.