Education Committee announces public hearing discussion points

The Legislature’s Education Committee has released the following discussion points to be covered at a series of October public hearings:

  • Reduce the reliance on property taxes through a local option income and/or sales tax.
  • Establish an education trust fund for the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (State Aid).
  • Distribute State Apportionment based on public school membership.
  • Base school spending limitations on economic measures.
  • Provide a minimum level of state funding for each district.
  • Use statewide historical spending adjusted by inflationary factors as a starting point for the need calculation of State Aid.
  • Determine the majority of the need calculation using a single per student need figure.
  • Provide a small component of need that is equal for every district to represent fixed costs.
  • Recognize additional need for unavoidable costs (special education, transportation, poverty, Limited English Proficiency)
  • Use Education Innovation Funds (lottery funds) for legislative priorities and school district initiatives.
  • Continue providing state funds to cover net gains in students due to the enrollment option program.

These discussion points are designed to raise a multitude of issues in the hope of prompting a rich dialog at the public hearings, which are part of the committee’s study of state education funding.

Strategies about revenue sources are being considered in conjunction with the work of the Tax Modernization Committee and any changes to the tax system recommended by the Education Committee will first be discussed with the Tax Modernization Committee at a joint meeting.

The Education Committee welcomes any other views on school finance that may be offered and is particularly interested in suggestions to improve the state education funding system.

The committee may limit testimony to three to five minutes based on attendance. Testifiers should provide 12 copies of any handouts or written testimony.  The hearings will be recorded and transcribed but will not be broadcast or live streamed. See the full schedule of public hearings.