Lindsley Smith offers update on 87th General Assembly and the public schools of Arkansas

Legislative Interim Update‏
From: LINDSLEY SMITH (lindsleysmith@msn.com)
Sent: Mon 5/04/09 10:36 AM
To:
Issues surrounding public schools didn’t have quite the spotlight during the regular session of the 87th General Assembly they’ve had in past legislative sessions, but that doesn’t mean lawmakers pushed those issues to the side.
The Arkansas Supreme Court in 2007 released the state from the 15-year-old Lake View school-funding case after a series of legislative sessions led to an infusion of about $1 billion in additional revenues for public schools and to the passage of several laws requiring more accountability and efficiency. By law, public schools are the legislature’s top funding priority.
With the state in a tight economy, few if any state agencies saw sizable budget increases. K-12 education received an increase of $28 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Per-student funding will go from the current $5,789 to $5,905.
While schools aren’t getting as much of an increase in state funding as they have in the past, it should be noted that many are still benefiting from a $456 million appropriation from the state surplus two years ago for school construction projects.
Public schools also are getting $570 million over the next six month in federal stimulus money. Of the $570 million in funding, about $111 million will be available for schools to improve academic performance and narrow the achievement gap.
About $117 million will be available special education and services to students with disabilities. The remaining $341 million will be available for renovation of school facilities and construction.
School districts can begin apply for funding on May 15.
In a recent teleconference with officials from schools across the state, Ken James, director of the state Education Department, said officials should ask four questions when deciding how to spend the funds:
· Will the funds be spent quickly to save and create jobs?
· Will student achievement improve?
· Will there be transparency in reporting and accountability?
· Will the money be placed in one-time programs that will not obligate the district financially when the money is gone within two years?
Meanwhile, the state also approved $35-per student enhancement funding that’s part of lawmakers’ attempts to ensure adequacy among districts no matter their location.
Lawmakers also provided $15 million to help public school teachers with their health insurance premiums and another $17 million in incentives for teachers with an increase in the number of students who score a 4 or 5 on end-of-course Advanced Placement exams.
Act 1481 of 2009 also offers incentives to schools for the number of students who complete the Smart Core curriculum and graduate. Smart Core is the state’s default curriculum beginning with the graduating class of 2010 that provides the foundation for both college- and career readiness. A fourth-year of higher mathematics after Algebra II and three years of laboratory-based science are the courses that set it apart from the state’s Core curriculum.
A school would receive $150 per student if 100 percent of graduates completed the curriculum, $100 per student for schools with at least 95 percent participation and $50 per student for schools with at least 90 percent participation.