SF 223 (LSB 1487XS (2) 89)

SENATE FILE 223

BY  QUIRMBACH

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to school funding by modifying provisions relating to preschool programs, enrollment, and supplementary weighting and including effective date and applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256C.5, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  “Preschool budget enrollment” means:
   (1)  For school districts providing ten or more hours, but less than fourteen hours per week of instruction, the figure that is equal to fifty percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October 1 of the base year, or the first Monday in October if October 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
   (2)  For school districts providing fourteen or more hours, but less than eighteen hours per week of instruction, the figure that is equal to sixty percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October 1 of the base year, or the first Monday in October if October 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
   (3)  For school districts providing eighteen or more hours per week of instruction, the figure that is equal to seventy percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October 1 of the base year, or the first Monday in October if October 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
    Sec. 2.  Section 257.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (5), Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   (5)  Resident pupils receiving competent private instruction from a licensed practitioner provided through a public school district pursuant to chapter 299A shall be counted as three-tenths four-tenths of one pupil. Revenues received by a school district attributed to a school district’s weighted enrollment pursuant to this subparagraph shall be expended for the purpose for which the weighting was assigned under this subparagraph. If the school district determines that the expenditures associated with providing competent private instruction pursuant to chapter 299A are in excess of the revenue attributed to the school district’s weighted enrollment for such instruction in accordance with this subparagraph, the school district may submit a request to the school budget review committee for a modified supplemental amount in accordance with section 257.31, subsection 5, paragraph “n”. A home school assistance program shall not provide moneys received pursuant to this subparagraph, nor resources paid for with moneys received pursuant to this subparagraph, to parents or students utilizing the program. Moneys received by a school district pursuant to this subparagraph shall be used as provided in section 299A.12.
    Sec. 3.  Section 257.11, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9A.  Supplementary weighting for low-income pupils.
   a.  In order to provide additional funding to school districts for the increased costs related to providing educational instruction and services to low-income pupils, supplementary weighting for such pupils shall be assigned under this subsection and included in the school district’s weighted enrollment under section 257.6, subsection 5.
   b.  A supplementary weighting of one-tenth shall be assigned to each pupil, as reported by the school district on the basic educational data survey for the base year, who is eligible for free and reduced price meals under the federal National School Lunch Act and the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. §1751-1785.
   c.  Amounts received as supplementary weighting under this subsection may be used by the school district for any school general fund purpose.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
    Sec. 5.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to school funding by modifying provisions relating to preschool programs, enrollment, and supplementary weighting.
   Under Code chapter 256C, preschool foundation aid is calculated by multiplying the school district’s preschool budget enrollment by the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year. “Preschool budget enrollment” is defined as the figure that is equal to 50 percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October 1 of the base year.
   The bill modifies the percentage used to calculate “preschool budget enrollment” based on the number of hours of instruction provided. For school districts providing 10 or more hours, but less than 14 hours per week of instruction, the percentage remains at 50 percent. For school districts providing 14 or more hours, but less than 18 hours per week of instruction, the percentage is 60 percent. For school districts providing 18 or more hours per week of instruction, the percentage is 70 percent.
   When calculating a school district’s basic enrollment under Code section 257.6, resident pupils receiving competent private instruction from a licensed practitioner provided through a public school district pursuant to Code chapter 299A are counted as three-tenths of one pupil. The bill increases the amount for such resident pupils to four-tenths of one pupil.
   The bill establishes supplementary weighting for low-income pupils to provide additional funding through the school funding formula to school districts for the increased costs related to providing educational instruction and services to low-income pupils. Under the bill, a supplementary weighting of one-tenth is assigned to each pupil in the school district who is eligible for free and reduced price meals under federal law. Amounts received as supplementary weighting under the bill may be used by the school district for any school general fund purpose.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.