MONTGOMERY — Legislators met again Monday to discuss possible changes to the funding of public K-12 school systems in Alabama.
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 is considering 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.
State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) said the change would be a “very heavy lift.”
“I think everybody wants to address the issue. The biggest concern I’ve seen so far is, ‘We haven’t seen numbers.’ Today, we’ve given some numbers. Now, these are just illustrative numbers and not recommendations. Now, we want to see if we can build some consensus,” Garrett told reporters on Monday.
The new models considered by lawmakers on Monday added weights to per-pupil funding for charter schools, rural districts, gifted students, English learners, poverty, and special education.
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