HB435 (2013) Detail

Relative to funding for chartered public school pupils.


HB 435-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2013 SESSION

13-0624

04/01

HOUSE BILL 435-FN

AN ACT relative to funding for chartered public school pupils.

SPONSORS: Rep. Weyler, Rock 13; Rep. Roberts, Ches 4; Rep. Sedensky, Rock 13; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that funding for chartered public school pupils shall be based on 50 percent of the most recently available statewide average cost per pupil for public school pupils.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

13-0624

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT relative to funding for chartered public school pupils.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Chartered Public Schools; Funding. Amend RSA 194-B:11, I(b) to read as follows:

(b) For any chartered public school authorized by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 194-B:3-a, the state shall pay [tuition pursuant to RSA 198:40-a plus an additional grant of $2,000] 50 percent of the most recently available statewide average cost per pupil for public school pupils as calculated by the department of education directly to the chartered public school for each pupil who is a resident of this state in attendance at such chartered public school.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

13-0624

Revised 02/04/13

HB 435 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to funding for chartered public school pupils.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Education states this bill, as introduced, will increase state education trust fund expenditures by $1,091,659 in FY 2013, and by an indeterminable amount in FY 2014 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenues, or county and local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

      The Department of Education states this bill amends public charter school funding to provide funding at 50% of the most recently available statewide average cost per pupil for public school pupils instead of paying tuition based on the adequate education funding formula established in RSA 198:40-a plus an additional $2,000 per student. For the purposes of estimating the fiscal impact of the proposed legislation the Department assumes the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLAC) will continue to receive annual funding of $3,805,980 under a separate memorandum of understanding and will therefore not be funded at 50% of the most recent average cost per pupil and charter schools will receive 50% of the average cost per pupil for each kindergarten student.

      Excluding the VLAC, the Department states there are approximately 1,674 (49.5 kindergarten and 1,624.5 grade 1-12 students) students enrolled in public charter schools. Accordingly, the Department estimates FY 2013 charter school funding under current law and the proposed legislation to be:

A

B

C

D

(B x C)

E

F

(B x E/2)

FY 2013

# of Students

Funding per Student (Current Law)

Current Charter School Funding Totals

2010-2011 Statewide Average Cost Per Pupil

Charter School Funding per Proposed Legislation

Kindergarten Students

49.5

$3,725

$ 184,388

$ 12,775.15

$ 316,185

Grade 1-12 Students

1,624.5

$5,450

8,853,525

$ 12,775.15

10,376,616

Estimated Differentiated Aid

382,199

   

Estimated Special Education Differentiated Aid

181,030

   

Memorandum of Understanding with the VLAC

3,805,980

 

3,805,980

Totals

$ 13,407,122

 

$14,498,781

      Based on these estimates, the Department notes the proposed legislation would increase state expenditures by $1,091,659 in FY 2013.

      Although the Department is unable to estimate charter school enrollments or differentiated aid for FY 2014; they note the average cost per student as calculated from the 2011-2012 school year for use in determining charter school aid under the proposed legislation for FY 2014 increases to $13,159 (3%). The Department also notes the funding level for charter school students will increase from $5,450 per student in grades 1-12 and $3,725 for kindergarten students to $5,498 and $3,749. Assuming enrollment levels and differential aid remain at 2011-2012 levels, the Department states the proposed legislation would increase state expenditures by $1,333,409 in FY 2014.

A

B

C

D

(B x C)

E

F

(B x E/2)

FY 2014

# of Students

Funding per Student (Current Law)

Current Charter School Funding Totals

2011-2012 Statewide Average Cost Per Pupil

Charter School Funding per Proposed Legislation

Kindergarten Students

49.5

$3,749.15

$ 185,583

$ 13,159.15

$ 325,689

Grade 1-12 Students

1624.5

$5,498.30

8,931,988

$ 13,159.15

10,688,520

Estimated Differentiated Aid

382,199

   

Estimated Special Education Differentiated Aid

181,030

   

Memorandum of Understanding with the VLAC

3,805,980

 

3,805,980

Totals

$ 13,486,780

 

$14,820,189

    The Department is unable to estimate the proposed legislation’s impact on state expenditures in FY 2015 and each year thereafter as the Department is unable to anticipate the number of charter school pupils, the amount of disparity aid that would be allotted to charter schools, the average cost per pupil, or the level of funding per student as calculated under current legislation for FY 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter.