Bill Text: HI SB2544 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Education Funding.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-01-24 - Referred to EDU, WAM. [SB2544 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2544-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2544 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO education funding.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that despite the intended equitable distribution of funds, the weighted student formula has placed small and remote schools at a disadvantage. In the case of Hana high and elementary school, for example, the budgetary shortfall has resulted in the loss of several well-qualified teachers and has threatened the school's ability to offer minimum course requirements for students to earn high school diplomas. As of 2005, six schools were excepted from weighted student formula allocations. The legislature additionally finds that small and remote schools should be adequately funded to retain the minimal personnel and resources necessary to deliver a quality education to students.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to improve the fiscal equity for small and remote schools by requiring the department of education's committee on weights to consider any inequities of negative consequences of its weighted student formula on small and remote schools.
SECTION 2. Section 302a-1303.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§302A-1303.5 Committee on weights. (a)
There is established within the department [of education] the
committee on weights to develop a weighted student formula pursuant to section
302A-1303.6. The committee [may:]
shall:
(1) Create a list of student characteristics that will be weighted;
(2) Create a system of weights based upon the student characteristics that may be applied to determine the relative cost of educating any student;
(3) Determine specific student weights, including their unit value;
(4) Determine which moneys shall be included in the amount of funds to be allocated through the weighted student formula;
(5) Recommend a weighted student formula to
the board [of education];
(6) Perform any other function that may facilitate the implementation of the weighted student formula; and
(7) Meet not less than once every
odd-numbered year, to review the weighted student formula and, if the committee
deems it necessary, recommend a new weighted student formula for adoption by
the board [of education.];
provided
that the committee, when developing its weighted student formula
recommendations, shall consider any inequities or negative consequences of its
weighted student formula funding recommendations on small and remote schools,
report these inequities or negative consequences to the board, and provide
funding adjustment recommendations to ameliorate these inequities or negative
consequences.
(b)
The composition of the committee on
weights shall be determined by the board [of education] based on
recommendations from the superintendent [of education] and dean of the [University]
university of Hawaii at Manoa college of education and include
principals, teachers, and other members with the appropriate professional
skills, experiences, and qualifications needed to facilitate the work of the
committee. The superintendent or the
superintendent's designee shall chair the committee on weights.
(c) The committee on weights may form advisory subcommittees to obtain input from key stakeholders as determined necessary by the committee.
(d) The members of the committee on weights shall
serve at the pleasure of the board [of education] and shall not be
subject to section 26-34. Members of the
committee on weights shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed
for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their
duties.
(e) For the purposes of subsection (a),
"small and remote school" means a public school except for a public
school governed by chapter 302D, that is:
(1) Located at least a one-hour drive
away from the nearest public high school;
(2) Located on the islands of Lanai,
Molokai, or Niihau;
(3) An elementary school with a student enrollment
of less than two hundred students; or
(4) A secondary school with a student
enrollment of less than four hundred students."
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; Impact on Small and Remote Schools
Description:
Requires the Department of Education Committee on Weights to consider the impact of its weighted student formula recommendations on small and remote schools.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
