A nearly $3.7 billion financing formula for Louisiana’s public schools that would boost their support by $85 million next year won unanimous support today from House lawmakers.
The Associated Press reports nearly half of the increase—about $41 million—is coming because more students are expected to attend the state’s public schools in the coming 2015-16 year.
Of the other new dollars, $36 million would provide a 1.4% inflationary increase for school districts and $8 million would increase spending for students with disabilities and for students taking so-called “dual enrollment” college courses and career education classes.
The formula was crafted by the state education department and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Lawmakers only can approve or reject the formula BESE sends them. They cannot change it.
The House voted 100-0 for the proposal with little discussion of its contents today, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
The formula is known as the Minimum Foundation Program. It allocates a base per-student support level for about 700,000 students across Louisiana’s public schools and then provides additional money depending on student type, local district wealth and the kinds of educational programs offered. The base per-pupil amount would grow from $3,961 to $4,051 under the legislation.
