How does the new school funding formula work?
The state has established a base per pupil amount. This is the amount per elementary school student that the state has determined to be adequate to provide an educational program that allows students to be proficient in the state Core Curriculum Content Standards. This number is then multiplied by various factors or “weights” to reflect the differing cost of educating a student at the middle and high school levels, at county vocational school districts, and various other factors that make it more expensive to educate some students. Every three years the state will revisit these amounts via an “Educational Adequacy Report.” During the years in between reports, these amounts will be increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The base per pupil amount established in the Educational Adequacy Report will become the basis for determining a school district’s base cost. The base cost will be determined by multiplying the base per pupil amount by the district’s weighted enrollment. The purpos
