Text to be removed highlighted in red.
1 Purpose.
I. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, public school enrollment in fall of 2019 totaled 167,284. When enrollment, referenced in RSA 198:38 as average daily membership of residence (ADMR), dropped unexpectedly in fall of 2020 to 160,715 at the same time that COVID-19 transmission rates rose and vaccines for children were unavailable, the legislature established in 2021, 91 (HB 2-FN-A-L) an enrollment (ADMR) floor for computing the fiscal year 2022 cost of an opportunity for an adequate education adequacy aid by town. The floor uses the higher enrollment (ADMR) for fall of 2019 or the fall of 2020 by town.
II. Enrollment (ADMR) for the fall of 2021, at 159,331, did not rebound as expected while COVID-19 transmission continues to escalate, affecting school enrollment and parental caution. This continuing enrollment drop can't be explained by students previously enrolled in public schools switching to education freedom accounts under RSA 194-F.
III. This act provides the same mitigation for fiscal year 2023 public school funding as was provided in 2021, 91 for fiscal year 2022. Section 2 of this act adds to the state's fiscal year 2023 requirements to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education by town using the higher of fall 2019 enrollment (ADMR), fall 2020 enrollment (ADMR), or fall 21 enrollment (ADMR).
2 Commissioner of Education; Calculation of Adequate Education Grant Payments; Fiscal Year 2023.
I. When determining average daily membership in residence (ADMR) for base adequate education grants under RSA 198:40-a, II(a), for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner of the department of education shall compare the ADMR in school year 2019-2020, school year 2020-2021, and school year 2021-2022. The greatest ADMR shall be used to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education and relief aid under RSA 198:40-e, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
II. When determining average daily membership in residence (ADMR) for English language learner pupils as required by RSA 198:40-a, II(c) and pupils receiving special education services as required by RSA 198:40-a, II(d) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner of the department of education shall compare the ADMR for these categories of differentiated aid in school year 2019-2020, school year 2020-2021, and school year 2021-2022. The greatest ADMR shall be used to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
III. When determining average daily membership in residence (ADMR) for third grade pupils scoring below proficiency on the reading component of the state assessment as required by RSA 198:40-a, II(e) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner of the department of education shall compare the ADMR for this category of differentiated aid in school year 2018-2019, school year 2019-2020, school year 2020-2021, and school year 2021-2022. The greatest ADMR shall be used to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 Purpose.
I. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, public school enrollment in fall of 2019 totaled 167,284. When enrollment, referenced in RSA 198:38 as average daily membership of residence (ADMR), dropped unexpectedly in fall of 2020 to 160,715 at the same time that COVID-19 transmission rates rose and vaccines for children were unavailable, the legislature established in 2021, 91 (HB 2-FN-A-L) an enrollment (ADMR) floor for computing the fiscal year 2022 cost of an opportunity for an adequate education adequacy aid by town. The floor uses the higher enrollment (ADMR) for fall of 2019 or the fall of 2020 by town.
II. Enrollment (ADMR) for the fall of 2021, at 159,331, did not rebound as expected while COVID-19 transmission continues to escalate, affecting school enrollment and parental caution. This continuing enrollment drop can't be explained by students previously enrolled in public schools switching to education freedom accounts under RSA 194-F.
III. This act provides the same mitigation for fiscal year 2023 public school funding as was provided in 2021, 91 for fiscal year 2022. Section 2 of this act adds to the state's fiscal year 2023 requirements to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education by town using the higher of fall 2019 enrollment (ADMR), fall 2020 enrollment (ADMR), or fall 21 enrollment (ADMR).
2 Commissioner of Education; Calculation of Adequate Education Grant Payments; Fiscal Year 2023.
I. When determining average daily membership in residence (ADMR) for base adequate education grants under RSA 198:40-a, II(a), for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner of the department of education shall compare the ADMR in school year 2019-2020, school year 2020-2021, and school year 2021-2022. The greatest ADMR shall be used to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education and relief aid under RSA 198:40-e, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
II. When determining average daily membership in residence (ADMR) for English language learner pupils as required by RSA 198:40-a, II(c) and pupils receiving special education services as required by RSA 198:40-a, II(d) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner of the department of education shall compare the ADMR for these categories of differentiated aid in school year 2019-2020, school year 2020-2021, and school year 2021-2022. The greatest ADMR shall be used to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
III. When determining average daily membership in residence (ADMR) for third grade pupils scoring below proficiency on the reading component of the state assessment as required by RSA 198:40-a, II(e) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner of the department of education shall compare the ADMR for this category of differentiated aid in school year 2018-2019, school year 2019-2020, school year 2020-2021, and school year 2021-2022. The greatest ADMR shall be used to calculate the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.