Parents and city officials gave public testimony this week to support legislation that would fully fund school districts with state money when federal COVID relief funds expire.
The legislation they support, House Bill 5283, which is before the Education Committee, would establish a new method of funding public education in the state.
In current education cost sharing formula’s phase-in schedule, underfunded districts would be fully fund by fiscal year 2028. The bill would change that date to fiscal year 2025. Federal COVID relief funds are set to expire at the end of the fiscal year 2024.
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The bill also seeks to close the economic and racial funding gaps between districts. According to the School + State Finance Project, districts with a student population greater than 75 percent white receive $713 million more than all other districts. Higher-need districts, which have 25 percent or more of their students on free and reduced-price lunch, receive $725 million less than low-need districts.