Appropriates funds to schools that have a decrease in funding as a result of the weighted student formula.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, established a committee on weights to develop, and the authority of the board of education to adopt, a weighted student formula. The weighted student formula is an allocation methodology that assigns a base amount of funding for each student, and additional funding for students exhibiting factors require more resources. These weighted factors are factors that influence a student's ability to learn, such as economic disadvantage, lack of English language ability, and the need for special education, as examples. The total funding for public schools was set to remain the same. While the weighted student formula would bring greater transparency to school funding and equalize some inequities, implementing the formula means that some schools would benefit from the formula, and others would suffer a net loss in funding.

The legislature further finds that this situation could be rectified by using unanticipated surplus funds to supplement underfunded schools and so that no cuts need to be made in other schools.

The purpose of this Act is to utilize the budget surplus to provide sufficient funding for FY 2006-2207 so that no schools will face budget cuts.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $___________, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the purpose of funding underfunded schools adversely impacted by the weighted student formula.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act; provided that the appropriation shall be divided in such a manner so that each school facing cuts be funded so that each will receive no less than the previous fiscal year.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.