Bill Text: PA HB1493 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for basic education funding for student achievement and for accountability to Commonwealth taxpayers.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 32-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-09-11 - Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS [HB1493 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1493-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1857
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1493 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, McCALL, EACHUS, GRUCELA, HARKINS, LONGIETTI, M. O'BRIEN, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, FABRIZIO, GEORGE, HOUGHTON, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, McGEEHAN, MENSCH, PARKER, PAYTON, READSHAW, KULA, MICOZZIE, JOSEPHS, MANDERINO, DONATUCCI, SIPTROTH AND MURT, MAY 13, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 13, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," further providing for basic education
funding for student achievement and for accountability to
Commonwealth taxpayers.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2502.48 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
July 9, 2008, (P.L.846, No.61), is amended to read:
Section. 2502.48. Basic Education Funding for Student
Achievement.--(a) The Department of Education shall calculate a
base cost per student. For the 2007-2008 school year, the base
cost per student shall be eight thousand three dollars ($8,003),
increased by the 2008-2009 index. For the 2008-2009 school year
and each school year thereafter for which school districts
receive basic education funding under this section, the base
cost per student shall be the base cost per student of the prior
school year, increased by the index for the school year in which
funding will be paid.
(b) The Department of Education shall determine an adequacy
target for each school district by calculating the sum of the
following:
(1) A base cost determined by calculating the product of the
base cost per student and the school district's modified ADM.
(2) A poverty supplement determined by calculating the
product of:
(i) the base cost per student;
(ii) the number of students enrolled in the school district
on October 31 of the funding year who were eligible for free or
reduced price meals under the school lunch program; and
(iii) forty-three one-hundredths (.43).
(3) A district size supplement determined by calculating the
maximum of zero and the product of:
(i) the base cost per student;
(ii) the school district's funding year average daily
membership; and
(iii) the sum of four hundred eighty-three one-thousandths
(.483) and the product of the natural logarithm of the school
district's funding year average daily membership and negative
five one-hundredths (-.05)[;].
(4) An English language learner supplement determined by
calculating the product of:
(i) the base cost per student;
(ii) the number of enrolled students identified as limited
English proficient in the funding year in the school district;
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and
(iii) the sum of three and seven hundred fifty-three one-
thousandths (3.753) and the product of the natural logarithm of
the school district's funding year average daily membership and
negative twenty-three one-hundredths (-.23), provided that such
amount shall be no less than one and forty-eight one-hundredths
(1.48) and no greater than two and forty-three one-hundredths
(2.43).
(5) An adjustment for geographic price differences
calculated as follows:
(i) Add the amounts under paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4).
(ii) Multiply:
(A) the sum under subparagraph (i); by
(B) the school district's location cost metric or one (1),
whichever is greater.
(iii) Subtract:
(A) the sum under subparagraph (i); from
(B) the product under subparagraph (ii).
(c) (1) The Department of Education shall determine a State
funding target for each school district by calculating the
product of:
(i) the difference between the school district's adequacy
target determined under subsection (b) and its actual spending
for the funding year, or zero, whichever is greater;
(ii) the school district's market value/income aid ratio for
the school year in which funding occurs; and
(iii) the lesser of one (1) and the school district's
funding year equalized millage divided by the equalized millage
that represents the seventy-fifth percentile of the equalized
millage of all school districts in the funding year.
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(2) In furtherance of the General Assembly's long-standing
commitment to providing adequate funding that will ensure
equitable State and local investments in public education and in
order to enable students to attain applicable Federal and State
academic standards, it is the goal of this Commonwealth to
review and meet State funding targets by fiscal year 2013-2014.
(d) The Commonwealth shall pay to each school district a
basic education funding allocation for the 2007-2008 school year
which shall consist of the following:
(1) An amount equal to the basic education funding
allocation for the 2006-2007 school year under sections
2502.13(m), 2502.47 and 2504.4(a.3).
(2) If a school district has been declared a Commonwealth
partnership school district under Article XVII-B, an amount
equal to four million dollars ($4,000,000).
(3) (i) For a school district with 2006-2007 equalized
millage that is greater than or equal to 24.7, which represents
the eightieth percentile of the equalized millage of all school
districts as of the effective date of this section, for the
2007-2008 school year, sixteen and seventy-five one hundredths
percent (16.75%) of the State funding target determined under
subsection (c).
(ii) For a school district with 2006-2007 equalized millage
that is less than 24.7, which represents the eightieth
percentile of the equalized millage of all school districts as
of the effective date of this section, for the 2007-2008 school
year, ten percent (10%) of the State funding target determined
under subsection (c).
(d.1) The Commonwealth shall pay to each school district a
basic education funding allocation which shall consist of the
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following:
(1) An amount equal to the allocations received by the
school district for the 2007-2008 school year under subsections
(d)(1) and (2) and (e).
(1.1) An amount equal to any allocations received by the
school district in the 2008-2009 school year under sections
2599.2 and 1512-C. The amount shall be used for programs and
services as required under the section in which funding was
provided in the 2008-2009 school year.
(1.2) An amount equal to any allocation received by the
school district in the 2008-2009 school year from the
appropriation for basic education formula enhancements included
in a general appropriation bill.
(1.3) If a school district has been declared a Commonwealth
partnership school district under Article XVII-B, an amount
equal to two million dollars ($2,000,000).
(2) For the 2008-2009 school year:
(i) Twenty-eight and fifty-six one-hundredths percent
(28.56%) of the State funding target determined under subsection
(c).
(ii) Any additional amount required so that the total amount
provided under paragraph (1) and this paragraph equals two
percent (2%) greater than the amount provided under subsections
(d) and (e).
(e) The Department of Education shall provide additional
funding for the 2007-2008 school year to any school district
where the amount determined under subsection (d)(3) provides an
amount less than three percent (3%) of the amount determined
under subsection (d)(1). The amount of additional funding shall
be the amount required so that the sum of subsection (d)(3) and
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this subsection equals three percent (3%) of the amount provided
under subsection (d)(1).
Section 2. Section 2502.49(b) of the act is amended by
adding a paragraph to read:
Section 2502.49. Accountability to Commonwealth Taxpayers.--
* * *
(b) The following shall apply:
* * *
(5) (i) The Department of Education may grant a waiver for
the use of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the funds subject
to subsection (a)(1) if all of the following apply:
(A) The school district would otherwise be required to
reduce or eliminate one or more of the programs listed in
subsection (a)(1) due to a projected budget shortfall.
(B) The funds subject to the waiver will be used to maintain
one or more existing programs listed under subsection (a)(1).
(C) The school district has, in the determination of the
Department of Education, pursued alternative opportunities for
greater efficiency and internal savings in order to fund the
program or programs without need for a waiver.
(D) The program or programs to be maintained address a
significant need of the school district's students and have
demonstrated effectiveness at increasing student achievement in
the school district, in the determination of the department.
(ii) The decision to grant a waiver shall be at the sole
discretion of the Department of Education and shall not be
subject to appeal.
(iii) This paragraph shall expire December 31, 2010.
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009, or
immediately, whichever is later.
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