MONTGOMERY — Alabama lawmakers met again Tuesday to consider changing how the state funds K-12 public education.
In April, legislators passed a joint resolution mandating a study on "modernizing" K-12 school funding.
The current Foundation Program formula provides funding to school districts based on the anticipated costs of resources and inputs, such as salaries, basic financial support for classrooms and operations money.
The Joint House and Senate Education Budget Committee studying the funding formula will also consider a student-based funding formula used in 41 other states where school districts receive funding based on the number of students enrolled or in attendance, with additional funding being provided based on characteristics of the students of the district, such as low-income, poverty, disability and status as an English language learner, or a gifted student.
"Legislators need to go back home, talk to their superintendents, to their local school board members. The Governor's Office will need to weigh in, and they're going to be shown the presentation. They're busy with the budgets today. There are a lot of players out there that will need to weigh in on this. This was just what it was: a presentation. After this comes the heavy lifting of determining what works best, if anything, for our state," State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) told reporters after a committee meeting on Tuesday.
K12 Ed Funding Study Commission 12nov2024 by Caleb Taylor on Scribd
Gina Maiola, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kay Ivey, told 1819 News, "We have been closely monitoring discussions and will continue to do so."
ETF by Caleb Taylor on Scribd
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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