Relating to school funding by modifying provisions relating to preschool programs, enrollment, and supplementary weighting and including effective date and applicability provisions

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 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 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 or more hours, but less than hours per week of instruction, the percentage remains at percent. For school districts providing or more hours, but less than hours per week of instruction, the percentage is percent. For school districts providing or more hours per week of instruction, the percentage is percent.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.