Relating to shared operational functions for purposes of supplementary weighting for school districts and including effective date and applicability provisions

Description

House File 845 adds a special education director to the list of eligible operational functions and job positions eligible for a supplementary weighting of 3.0 pupils. The Bill provisions would apply to the school year beginning in FY 2022. The first year of funding would begin in FY 2023.

Background

Iowa Code section 257.11(5) allows for supplementary weighting for school districts and Area Education Agencies (AEAs) that share Iowa Code-specified job positions for at least 20.0% of the school year. Supplementary weighting under this provision is available through FY 2025. For more information on shared operational functions, see the Issue Review School Aid — Supplementary Weightings.

A special education director has specific licensure requirements set by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE), and AEA special education directors have delineated duties under Iowa Administrative Code. Due to program oversight responsibilities, there may be a conflict with an AEA special education director sharing the position with a school district.

Assumptions

• Based on preliminary 2020-2021 school year data, 200 school districts will be eligible to receive the full weighting for the shared operational function, and 12 school districts will be eligible for partial weightings.
• For estimation purposes, it is assumed that 20.0% of the eligible districts will begin sharing in FY 2022.
• Funding for eligible school districts will begin in FY 2023, and end in FY 2025.
• Supplementary weighting is funded through a combination of State aid and property taxes.
• Under current law, the State cost per pupil (SCPP) is $7,227 and the Property Tax Replacement Payment (PTRP) is $153 for FY 2023.
• Any legislative changes to the SCPP will alter the fiscal impact provided.

Fiscal Impact

House File 845 will increase funding for school districts from the General Fund appropriation for State aid and property taxes in the estimated amounts listed below.Fiscal

Year

Number of

School Districts State Aid

Property

Taxes Total

2023 43 809,625$ 93,750$ 903,375$ 2024 43 809,625 93,750 903,375 2025 43 809,625 93,750 903,375 It is not known if any AEAs will share the special education director function with a school district. Each additional AEA that is eligible, and is not currently generating funding for supplementary weighting, will increase State aid funding by $30,000.

Sources

• Department of Education
• LSA calculations