The state is one step closer to the cost of an adequate education...again.
New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein has more.
Today, the Committee on Costing an Adequate Education produced its final report: a series of policy proposals to fund the state’s share of education costs.
The six Democrats on the committee endorsed the plan, the four Republicans opposed it.
The Committee determined that each student would receive nearly $3,500.
On top of that, additional aid would be provided for special education, English Language Learners and students eligible for free and reduced lunch.
In a break from previous formulas, money would be allocated to schools, rather than permitting school districts to distribute funds.
One of the most controversial elements is the concept that at schools with high concentrations of kids on free and reduced lunch, all students would receive up to double the universal grant of $3,500.
In the past, money has gone only to the students eligible for free and reduced lunch.
Senator Iris Estabrook, who co-chaired the Committee, says the report breaks a lot of new ground.
6:03 there is a lot of heavy material here that is going to be historically important as we go forward. And a lot of major policy decisions that have been recommended.
Those major policy decisions are the same things Committee member Republican David Hess doesn’t like.
Hess says he’s very concerned about providing extra money to students who aren’t eligible for free or reduced lunch.
And he worries about providing money to schools, rather than school districts.
Both propositions, he says, are costly.
8:15 we think there may be a spread of as much as a couple hundred million dollars...between what they are suggesting and what we think is adequacy.
Now that much of the committee’s work is done, Senator Estabrook will begin in earnest to craft legislation to flush out the report.
She says she will have something in the coming weeks.
While no final dollar figure has been identified, Estabrook, says she expects it will hover around the $897 million the state currently distributes.
To some, the plan all but eliminates the need for a constitutional amendment that would allow the state greater flexibility in how it targets funds.
But before the Committee adjourned after five months of work, the governor’s attorney Michael Delaney reminded lawmakers where the governor stands.
TAPE: your diligent efforts to find a way to target aid will be frustrated and undermindes, and that’s why he believes strongly that we all need to work together to support a constitutional amendment during this session that will give the state greater flexibility to target aid to communities and school children who need it the most.
Lawmakers are expected to introduce their amendments next week.
Once that happens, the full Legislature is likely to start a debate on education funding that will last through the remainder of the session.
For NHPR News, I’m DG.
