SB543 – Funding Formula Commission Tasked With Huge Responsibility First meeting of the SB543 Commission takes place tomorrow

Announcements, Legislation, School Finance Reform  |     |  

Tomorrow, September 27 at 10 a.m. is the first meeting for the SB543 Commission that will decide how to implement the new public education funding formula.

 

There is likely no committee more important than this as it’s tasked with figuring out the logistics and details of the new funding formula impacting all Nevada public school students.

 

As a group that has been studying funding formulas and advocating for a new funding formula for the state, Educate Nevada Now is looking forward to the commission discussing the following key issues as part of their charge under the law.

 

  1. Reviewing the base per pupil funding amount, the adjusted per pupil funding for each district and the multiplier for weighted funding for each category of students and recommend revisions as they determine to be appropriate.

  • What per pupil funding will the commission deem appropriate so that students have the resources necessary to meet state standards?

  • How will the commission recommend we reach this target of funding?

  • How will the multiplier for weighted funding for each category of students (English learners, at-risk, and Gifted and Talented, and students with disabilities ) be determined? Currently, additional funding is only provided for 20 percent of all students who fall under these categories. 

  • What will be the commission’s recommendation for additional funding the transition to weights so that we can support all students with unique needs?

  1. Reviewing state laws and regulations related to education and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public education.

  • Will we identify unfunded mandates and recommending the funds to support these state laws?

  1. Reviewing and making recommendations relative to the pupil-centered funding Plan’s equity and cost adjustment factors, which include those for each county, small schools and districts.

  • How do we ensure our students in smaller districts maintain the resources they have and get any resources they need in a timely manner as the formula catches up for all school districts?

  • How do we properly distinguish the unique resources needed, economies of scale, and other challenges of large and small/rural districts?

  1. Review the Department of Education’s reports on the personnel and services an average school could employ based on the funding included in the Governor’s recommended budget and the budget approved by the Legislature and provide recommendations for revision as appropriate.

  • How can we utilize this data to identify targets and goals so that every school has the resources needed to be successful and to have all students meet state and federal mandates.

  • What is the achievement level for the “average school” and is that a benchmark we want to set?

 

The commission has two years to discuss these changes and get the data necessary to implement the new formula – this will be no easy task but we know the commission is made up of people who care about education enough to ensure we get this formula right. We look forward to hearing the commission discuss the needs of our students and how this new formula can provide for those needs by setting goals and timely benchmarks.  However, ultimately it is the discussion of finding additional dollars to fund appropriate class sizes, teacher recruitment and retention, up-to-date books and technology, and other essential resources that will have the most significant impact on our students’ success.