HCS HB 1273 & 1136 -- SCHOOL FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS

SPONSOR:  Baker (123)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Student Achievement and Finance by a vote of 7 to 1.

In the school funding formula scheduled to go into effect July 1,
2006, if the attendance in a summer school program drops more
than 15% or a gifted program drops more than 20% during the
phase-in period, the school district will have its aid reduced
proportionately.  This substitute removes the aid reduction for a
drop in the summer school enrollment and raises the threshold for
the gifted program penalty to a 40% drop.  Each school district
must identify gifted children and report to the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education on the district's gifted
program, if one exists.  Gifted programs remain an option, rather
than a mandate.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that penalties for summer school and
gifted enrollment shortfalls don't take into consideration the
variety of reasons a district may have a smaller enrollment.
Most superintendents will try to find other places to cut, and
teachers and parents feel these programs are essential.

Testifying for the bill were Cooperating School Districts of
Greater Kansas City; Missouri National Education Association;
Kansas City School District; St. Louis Public Schools Board of
Education; Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation;
Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis; Missouri
School Boards' Association; Missouri State Teachers Association;
Missouri Council of School Administrators; Missouri School
Administrators Coalition; Gifted Association of Missouri;
Missouri Association of School Business Officials; and Rebecca
Smith, Central High School Middle Years Scholars Program and
District D Gifted Association of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that gifted programs
will be the most likely ones to suffer during low budget years.
An identifiable funding stream is the best way to prevent
cancellation of programs.

Testifying against the bill were Maurice Overlander; Brittany
Donnellan; Lauren Kerivan; Raleigh Cavero; Caleb Wiedner; Martha
Scott Burton; Mary Katherine Theresa Fanning; Gail Melgren; Amy
Wright Vollmar; Corinne Michelle Char; Bob Jones; Ryan Fanning;
Barbara Wait; Ann Luciani; Jane B. Sellars; Peggy Lewis; Orlando
V. Hodges; Marie Pesek; Amy Hungerford; Domingo Pacheco; Pam
Lewczuk; Susan Iverson; and Richard Lee Burton.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that gifted programs
are so important to students' lives that more work must be done
to ensure that gifted funding does not become a constant
preoccupation.

Others testifying on the bill were Robin Lady; Deborah Kring;
Shelley Creed; Meg Mohr; Sue Winter; Janet Baldwin; Michele
Kaleel; Kristy Buelter; Linda Smith; Linda Aiken; Edison Schools;
Sue Thompson; Juliana C. Moseley; Marilyn Toalson; Susan
Schneider; Carrie Ziolkowski; and Newton Learning.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am